Gogo has begun flight testing its next-generation 5G air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity network for North American customers. Using a Pilatus PC-24 as the trials platform, the test team is flying on alternate days to explore the full potential of unrestricted Gogo 5G broadband access. The engineering and software teams aim to complete the comprehensive validation program in 40 to 50 flight hours over several weeks.
The campaign follows a progressive testing approach, starting with simple procedures and advancing to fully loaded scenarios running multiple applications—including video calls, streaming, and internet browsing—on several devices simultaneously.
Flight tests are initially using Gogo towers in eastern Colorado and Nebraska, before expanding to cover Broomfield, Chicago, New York, Miami, and other regions in between. On the ground, Gogo engineers monitor every flight, collecting performance data from the 5G network and onboard hardware. The trials aim to confirm results from months of ground testing and validate network performance models.
The program has already validated the 5G chip’s functionality following delivery of the new 5G chipset to Airspan, Gogo’s network deployment partner, in May. Once flight testing concludes, Gogo will finalize the 5G AVANCE software and seek FAA approval for the Gogo AVANCE LX5 and Gogo X3 systems, both previously certified for the 4G platform.
Already, over 400 aircraft have been pre-provisioned for Gogo 5G, up from 300 just three months ago — marking a major step toward the future of in-flight connectivity.
