How do you deliver multiple, diverse command and control links to a small, uncrewed aircraft, fully integrated in controlled airspace? SkyFive and EchoStar have successfully concluded a series of flight tests, in partnership with Airbus, to combine S-band satellite and terrestrial links and deliver that functionality.
Satellite
Honeywell secures Iridium certification for Aspire 350
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.
Inmarsat boosts speeds with updated Jet ConneX plans
Inmarsat’s new data plans, part of the Jet ConneX Evolution program announced last year, are now live, promising up to 100 Mbps speeds to business jets.
Inmarsat boosts SwiftJet distribution with Collins Aerospace deal
Collins Aerospace is the newest distributor for Inmarsat’s SwiftJet inflight internet service. Expected to enter service later this year, SwiftJet offers upgraded performance for the global business aviation market over L-band satellite links.
ViaSat-3 Americas launches successfully
The first ViaSat-3 satellite successfully launched from Cape Canaveral on Sunday night, beginning its short ride to geostationary orbit where it will open the next generation of satellite communications, including the inflight market.
Inmarsat suffers L-band outage over Asia-Pacific region
Thousands of miles from shore the most reliable communications link typically comes over satellite. That came to an abrupt end over the Pacific this week as one of Inmarsat’s satellites went offline.
Hanwha sets stage for aero ESA trials later this year
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Phasor’s ESA technology will enter ground testing later this year, with hopes of getting airborne by Q1 2024. This time, however, it will be under the Hanwha brand name, as the company pushes forward with its commercial aero goals.
CesiumAstro brings Ka-band ESA to life; Airbus trials planned
CesiumAstro has a lot of experience delivering phased array antenna solutions in space. Now it wants to bring that hardware a bit closer to earth. The company announced a new Ka-band electronically steered antenna (ESA) platform at Satellite 2023, including plans for the commercial aviation sector.
Orbit makes antenna play for the regional jet IFC market
As multiple vendors vie for a slice of the regional jet connectivity refresh in the North America Orbit Communication Systems is taking an arguably more well-rounded approach. The company is now pitching its AirTRx family of parabolic antennae as “the ultimate solution for regional jets, where space is limited.”
Astronics plans Ka-band antenna program for 777s
Astronics plans to certify a Ka-band inflight internet terminal for the 777.