Inmarsat to demo advanced SB-S in flight trial with FLYHT
Inmarsat will demonstrate its advanced new SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) solution in a flight trial with FLYHT, a provider of real-time aircraft intelligence and cockpit communications. The evaluation will commence later this year using an experimental trial aircraft that enables a range of conditions to be assessed. It will use the capabilities of Inmarsat’s next-generation SB-S solution to provide secure, high-speed global connectivity to enhance airline safety, security and operations.
FLYHT will provide equipment and software, including its Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRSTM) product and UpTimeTM Cloud flight management server, together with technical support for the flight trial.
Captain Mary McMillan, Vice President of Aviation Safety and Operational Services at Inmarsat, said: “This important flight trial will showcase the advanced capabilities of SwiftBroadband-Safety, together with FLYHT’s powerful platforms, to provide operational benefits to airlines in the form of real-time aircraft diagnostics, performance monitoring, detection of exceedance-critical parameters and improved operational efficiency.
“In addition, we will demonstrate how our currently available technologies can provide the industry with cost effective solutions to emerging safety requirements, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s imminent new requirements on aircraft flight tracking.”
Tom Schmutz, FLYHT’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This is a great opportunity for FLYHT to work directly with Inmarsat and install our newest technology solution on an aircraft that can demonstrate Inmarsat’s “Black Box in the Cloud” capability. FLYHT brings significant expertise in the areas of Autonomous Distress Tracking and the Timely Recovery of Flight Data and we look forward to testing our solution with Inmarsat and the other trial partners.”
Inmarsat is bringing complete connectivity to every aircraft and flight path, worldwide. As the only aviation broadband provider capable of connecting the complete aircraft from cabin to cockpit, Inmarsat’s SB-S brings ‘always on, always secure’ high-speed broadband into the cockpit, transforming aviation safety and optimising flight operations.
SB-S is currently in use with Hawaiian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and United Airlines (above). It has been selected by Airbus as Light Cockpit Satcom solution on its popular A320 and A330 families.
Inmarsat’s safety and operations services are complemented by next-gen inflight passenger broadband solutions GX Aviation and the European Aviation Network (EAN).