RE: Frontier AirlinesAppears that they do
September 10, 2005 – SATELLITE operator Iridium will carry operational voice and data communications for Chinese airlines worldwide following an agreement between datalink equipment provider AeroMechanical Services of Canada and China’s Aviation Data Communication Company (ADCC).
AeroMechanical Services (AMS) offers the AFIRS/UpTime system to aircraft operators. The AFIRS (Automated Flight Information and Reporting System) data collection and transmission unit combines with Web-compatible UpTime software and the Iridium global system to give airlines near-real-time information on the location and status of their fleets. AFIRS also supports voice communications, which can be used by flight crews for aircraft operational purposes.
As the organisation responsible for air traffic communications in China, ADCC has contracted AMS and Iridium to provide services for China’s airlines. “This agreement answers a lot of needs for ADCC and the airlines of China,” says ADCC president Niu Yi. “Aircraft operators need global voice coverage to support co-ordination with various organisations on the ground. And the AMS product line allows for standardised data communications across a rapidly growing fleet of aircraft.”
First Chinese carrier to use the new service will be China Eastern Airlines, which is expected to start receiving equipment for its 183-aircraft fleet later this month. Full deployment to all Chinese carriers, with a total fleet of over 900 aircraft, is due to be completed over the next four years.
This is by far the most significant application of Iridium satcoms to date. Other air transport users include Aloha Airlines, Canadian North Airlines and Frontier Airlines, Las Vegas-based all-first-class operator Primaris, QantasLink feeder operator Sunstate Airlines, and Caribbean Sun Airlines and Caribbean Star Airlines
Any reason to be concerned?
Crackie