. | . |
Avionica Begins Installing Iridium Satellite Communication Systems On Continental Airlines
Bethesda MD (SPX) Jun 18, 2007 Avionica has won orders from Continental Airlines to outfit nine B737-800 passenger aircraft with advanced Iridium satellite systems to provide global, low-cost voice and data communications. The Continental aircraft will be equipped with Avionica's new satLINK Iridium system, including antenna, wiring, structural elements and a control panel. The initial installations will provide an Iridium phone handset in the cockpit, which is expected to be augmented by a wireless cabin handset and integration with the aircraft's communications management unit (CMU) with a mid-year upgrade. "We introduced satLINK in 2006 as a practical satellite-based alternative to offer additional voice and data communications capabilities to supplement other terrestrial and satellite systems, which are becoming overburdened with heavy traffic," said Raul Segredo, president of Avionica. Continental has selected ARINC to provide the voice and data services for the satLINK Iridium systems. ARINC's GLOBALink/Iridium service is the first to offer Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) messaging using Iridium. "ARINC is pleased to be able to expand our long-standing relationship with Continental Airlines," said Steve Means, vice president of aviation solutions for ARINC. "We are confident that Iridium will provide both near-term and long-term benefits to our customers." Continental Airlines, like a growing number of major air carriers worldwide, is discovering the unique benefits of Iridium's aeronautical satellite services for air-to-ground voice and data communications. "The application of Iridium satcom services will eliminate the sole dependency on standard radio communication methods which are subject to range limitations over isolated areas," said Jun Tsuruta, Jr., senior director of technical purchasing for Continental. "This means that flight crews are not out of touch like they once were. This is a welcome technological breakthrough that ensures global safety and communications in every sense of the word." "We are pleased that Continental Airlines, like a growing number of major air carriers worldwide, is discovering the unique benefits of Iridium's aeronautical satellite services for air-to-ground voice and data communications," said Greg Ewert, executive vice president, Iridium Satellite. "Iridium aeronautical omni directional antennas are low-profile low-drag units, which are easy to retrofit in the field. And, only Iridium's service area is truly worldwide with ubiquitous gap-free coverage, even over the extreme polar regions." Email This Article
Related Links
Voyage To The Giant Asteroids Marks Dawn Of New Planetary Exploration Phase Huntsville AL (SPX) Jun 18, 2007 The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is like the solar system's cluttered old attic. The dusty, forgotten objects there are relics from a time long ago, each asteroid with its own story to tell about the solar system's beginnings. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |