Honeywell has received an FAA technical standard order for its Aspire 350 Hybrid satcom terminal, marking the first such approval for a dual unit that combines legacy and next-generation Iridium safety and Iridium Certus services in one system.
Aspire 350 Hybrid will enable business aircraft owners, airliners, and helicopter operators to have secure cockpit voice and data services as well as access to cabin voice and data over the Iridium satellite network for L-band with speeds of up to 704 kbps. The hybrid satcom system replaces legacy safety and cabin terminals, providing global coverage.
“Aspire 350 Hybrid is the first FAA-certified satcom system with both legacy modems to support essential safety services and an Iridium Certus broadband modem to enable the fastest speeds available over the Iridium network,” said Steve Hadden, v-p and general manager of services and connectivity for Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Operators now have access to fast, flexible, affordable, and reliable high-speed aircraft connectivity with global coverage, including the remote polar regions. Additionally, depending on the solution offering, owners and operators can do everything they currently do on the ground—from providing critical safety communications to supporting an ’office in the sky’ up to multiple devices.”
Aspire 350 Hybrid supports Future Air Navigation System-over-Iridium for oceanic airspace, reducing the flight path and saving fuel and time. Further, operators can access real-time weather updates and other safety and non-safety data securely.
