Whether for smaller planes, a secondary network for redundancy and true global coverage, or just a solid, lightweight internet link in the sky, business jet owners can now choose Honeywell’s Aspire 350 system, operating on the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation.
Certus
Collins Aerospace launches BizAv cabin connectivity on Iridium Certus
Collins Aerospace formally launched its IRT NX inflight internet solution at EBACE 2023, bringing a lightweight option powered by the Iridium NEXT LEO constellation to the business aviation market.
Bombardier makes inflight internet standard on the Challenger 3500
Inflight internet service is now a standard offering for business jet customers. Buyers of the Challenger 3500 will find that the aircraft comes with Iridium Certus hardware on board.
Wizz Air expands fflya functionality with live credit card processing
Realtime credit card processing is now available on the fflya platform, extending the capabilities of the Bluetooth-based inflight connectivity solution. The service was demonstrated on a Wizz Air A321 as part of the ongoing deployment trial with that carrier.
Wizz Air expands fflya connectivity commitment
Wizz Air will fit its UK fleet with satellite-based internet access. The carrier plans to expand its trial of the fflya product from AS-IP Tech to 19 aircraft according to a recent regulatory filing.
Inflight connectivity soars higher than ever
When the Airbus Perlan Mission II takes flight later this year it will soar higher than ever. And it will do so with a new in-flight connectivity link on board.
Thales PureFlyt brings an "entirely connected" upgrade to aircraft FMS
Thales is set to deliver an “entirely connected” flight management system (FMS) upgrade in the middle of the next decade. PureFlyt is billed as the FMS of the future designed to incorporate data from multiple sources, internal and external to the aircraft, making aircraft operations more efficient.
PaxEx Premium: Iridium sees a shift with NEXT constellation completion
After nearly three billion dollars invested and eight successful launch missions the Iridium NEXT constellation is nearly complete. In just a couple weeks the final swaps will take place and the full complement of 66 NEXT satellites will be online. For Iridium the milestone brings a dramatic shift in business plans and economics. CEO Matt Desch is clear that reducing CapEx is a key near-term goal and that the company will remain focused on its niche markets, "If we can offer that service at 22-100kbps with a very small antenna that can be installed into a small drone or an automobile or a sensor in the ocean, that will expand the market tremendously. That is not a market that anyone is talking
about. We believe Iridium NEXT and Certus is best positioned to deliver on that." But he also makes clear that neither of those plans is truly absolute. Expect to see Iridium "bleed into some things" that don't truly fit the mold. Inflight services is one vertical where Certus will likely disrupt the status quo.
Iridium picks up the pace
Iridium has a target date for its 5th launch of Iridium NEXT satellites. With that event the company aims to pick up the pace, speeding towards completion of the new constellation.