This will enable commercial, business, and government aircraft to increase efficiency while receiving graphical weather updates, transmitting aircraft telematics, providing future cockpit safety services, and more at the higher speeds of Iridium.
Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) partner Collins Aerospace has made major progress over the past two years developing its new Active Low-Gain (ALGA) and High-Gain Antennas (HGA) for Iridium Certus. After recently successfully transmitting the highest data rates possible to the Iridium® constellation using its bi-directional antennas, Collins Aerospace has become the first aviation Value Added Manufacturer (VAM) to receive a developmental over-the-air Iridium Certus license. This brings the Collins ALGA and HGA very close to delivering the services of Iridium Certus to the aviation industry.
Receiving this developmental license keeps Collins Aerospace on track to bring its new Iridium Connected® aviation terminals to the market in late 2022. Once complete, the low-profile SATCOM solution will be more SWAP (size, weight, and power) efficient than competing systems, creating less drag on the aircraft at lower power consumption. This will enable commercial, business, and government aircraft to increase efficiency while receiving graphical weather updates, transmitting aircraft telematics, providing future cockpit safety services, and more at the higher speeds of Iridium Certus.
The truly global multi-service platform of Iridium Certus offers the fastest L-band speeds in the industry. With narrowband, midband, and broadband options, aviators can choose which service class speed best suits their needs. Once the Collins Aerospace terminals launch in 2022, the fastest and most reliable L-band SATCOM solution will be available globally.
“Collins Aerospace has continued to be at the forefront of Iridium Certus development for the aviation sector,” says Iridium Executive Vice President, Bryan Hartin. “Partners like Collins are integral in shaping the future of reliable connectivity for flight crews and passengers everywhere.”