Connectivity giant, Inmarsat, has entered into a partnership with Teledyne Controls, a manufacturer of aircraft data management technologies, to enhance and support airlines’ digital operations across Europe as part of the Iris air traffic modernisation programme.
The partnership covers the integration of Inmarsat’s SB-S platform, powered by its global ELERA satellite network, with Teledyne’s Aircraft Interface Device (AID+)-enabled GroundLink Comm+ communication system and third-party Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) software, currently installed on more than 14,000 aircraft with 200 airlines. The partners say that combining Inmarsat and Teledyne’s technologies into a single end-to-end solution will help bring real-time IP connectivity to aircraft across Europe. Benefits are expected to include reductions in delays, fuel use and carbon emissions, and better situational awareness for pilots.
Joel Klooster, SVP of aircraft operations and safety at Inmarsat Aviation said, “For airlines, the combination of technologies across a wider choice of airframes through retrofit, will enable more accurate flight tracking and a reduced environmental impact, while passengers will benefit from fewer delays and shorter flight times. All of this means Inmarsat’s customers can get a great return on investment on their technologies, bolstering their bottom line.”
Teledyne Controls’ technologies are expected to enhance capability in automatic data exchange, accelerating data transfers between airborne systems, ground-based equipment, and the cloud – as well as transferring critical data while in-flight. This includes continuously sending avionics data to support flight data monitoring and aircraft tracking, offering operators near real-time updates on selected data.
In addition, Inmarsat and Teledyne will integrate and test with commercial ‘off-the-shelf’ EFB applications from a variety of third-party partners. The partners say that demonstrating applications collaboratively, such as real-time multi-source meteorology, system-wide information management (SWIM), flight profile optimisation, and electronic document management for crews, will validate the commercial advantages of connected aircraft to airlines.
Jim Jackson, VP of business development and strategy at Teledyne Controls added, “By leveraging Inmarsat’s ELERA network and SB-S platform through this partnership, we are able to extend our capabilities and the innovations they bring to customers even further. Our combined technologies will promote sustainability for the airlines through optimisation with real-time data to the flight deck and the ground. Now more than ever, we want airlines to be able to reap the rewards of their investment in technologies, and we are thrilled to be working with Inmarsat to deliver this for our customers.”
