IMOCA skippers endure weeks on end at sea and rely on the Thales VesseLINK™ powered by Iridium Certus® to keep them connected no matter where they sail. As the skippers endure physical and technical challenges, the success or failure of a race can depend on reliable ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship connectivity. The Iridium Certus L-band broadband service delivers the foundation for all of these elements, providing dependable high-speed connectivity globally regardless of sailing conditions.
Efficient and precise flight data communications made it possible to ensure a safe flight home for Canadian students traveling back from Guatemala during global border closures.
During a March 2020 humanitarian mission to a remote area of Guatemala, a group of Quebec school students and their teachers struggled to secure a flight back home to Canada, amid the rush of global border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the looming deadlines for grounded international travel, the students were able to successfully evacuate from Guatemala within minutes of the country’s international border closure – thanks to a chartered flight from Quebec-based Nolinor Aviation. The success of this urgent flight was leveraged by the airlines’ SKYTRAC SkyWeb flight charting platform and communications powered by Iridium’s pole-to-pole satellite network.
On March 16, Nolinor Aviation received an urgent call from the Quebec school board for help in rescuing the stranded students. Nolinor’s aircraft took flight as soon as they received the transportation request, utilizing SKYTRAC’s SkyWeb Flight Following & Voice platform to chart flight paths and communicate with ground operations, while already in the air.
“We were racing against the clock to rescue a school group in Guatemala and left 45 minutes before airspace closure. All critical communications and decisions were made during flight with SKYTRAC Systems.”
Oliver Tomczak
Security Director,
Nolinor Aviation
Time and precision were essential for this mission. The plane was the last aircraft to exit Guatemala City airport – just 45 minutes before the country ceased all international traffic. Ultimately, the Nolinor aircraft transported 45 Canadian students and five teachers safely and timely from Guatemala and coordinated all critical communications through SKYTRAC Systems’ SkyWeb.
Nolinor Aviation is the largest privately-owned airline carrier offering specialized commercial charter flights to and from Canada. Its progressive and steady growth has allowed them to offer air transport across Canada, the United States, and multiple destinations worldwide – including remote regions with challenging gravel and icy runways. Nolinor has integrated SkyWeb into its day-to-day operations to drive efficiencies and add value to their global operation.
SKYTRAC Systems offer companies such as Nolinor, a secure Automated Flight Following and Voice solution that allows aerospace organizations to chart flight paths, track aircraft quickly, and have real-time voice communications over reliable pole-to-pole satellite connectivity. Providing companies with the technologies and support to operate their missions successfully and efficiently is a fundamental goal of SKYTRAC. Learn more about SKYTRAC Systems and the robust data acquisition components, services offered to facilitate safety and provide speed, and cost-effective solutions for the aviation industry at skytrac.ca.
During these times, many of us have been making an effort to physically distance by exploring off-the-grid. While the way we do things has changed, the importance of staying connected remains. That’s why governments, businesses, first responders and adventurers rely on Iridium® to be able to make phone calls and text message when they’re outside of cell coverage.
When the Iridium Extreme first debuted in 2011, it was the first satellite phone with an integrated SOS emergency button, ensuring people stay safe and connected no matter where they explore. The phone features text messaging, text-to-email, GPS tracking capabilities and military-grade durability with an IP65 rating, making it the perfect companion when you’re off the beaten path.
Iridium is excited to introduce our new special edition, limited quantity Iridium Extreme handsets in Safety Yellow and Sporting Camo, which can add some personalized style to your adventure. The special edition phones are available in limited quantities from select Iridium retailers around the world.
“Our special edition Iridium Extreme satellite phones are designed for those who either want to make sure they’re seen and heard, with the Safety Yellow, or those who may want to stay hidden in the brush and communicate at the right time, with the Sporting Camo,” says Josh Miner, vice president of Land Mobile at Iridium. “The Safety Yellow edition is meant to be easy to spot, like construction vests or an EPIRB device on a boat. Whereas the Sporting Camo edition makes a lot of sense for those going off the beaten path during hunting season or looking for the right matching accessory to fit their lifestyle.”
Like the standard model, Iridium Extreme Safety Yellow and Iridium Extreme Sporting Camo come with full accessory kits, but also a matching color lanyard. Standard accessories include a travel charger with international adapters, magnetic vehicle mount external antenna, hands-free earpiece with microphone and more.
Collins Aerospace low-gain Iridium Certus antenna successfully connects to operational Iridium® satellites, keeping it on track for its 2022 product launch.
Iridium partner Collins Aerospace continues to make progress in bringing its new Iridium Certus aviation terminal to market. The company passed a major development milestone and is the first among Iridium Certus aviation partners to connect an aviation-grade antenna, in this case an Active Low-Gain Antenna (ALGA), to the Iridium constellation.
Collins Aerospace’s Iridium Certus solution is designed to meet the connectivity needs of commercial, business and government aircraft. The service will enable a variety of capabilities for cockpit safety, graphical weather, electronic flight bags, enhanced aircraft reporting, and other operational aircraft services for airline and government customers. It will offer this through small form factor antennas currently in testing, and terminals that are ideal for operators of smaller aircraft requiring internet connectivity.
Collins Aerospace was announced as an Iridium service provider for the aviation industry in 2018, and continues to make progress in its solution to enable a faster, more reliable SATCOM experience. Enabled by Iridium’s upgraded constellation, Iridium Certus is a multi-service communications platform that offers the highest speed L-band connectivity and only truly global mobile satellite service on the market.
“Collins Aerospace continues to play a critical role in bringing the next-generation L-band broadband solution to customers around the world,” says Iridium Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Bryan Hartin. “The progress of its Iridium Certus SATCOM solution is paving the way for safer and more connected skies.”