Iridium® Safety Voice Communications Installs Surge Past 500 Aircraft
March 06 2017 - 8:00AM
Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) today announced that its
Safety Voice service, which is used for air traffic communications,
has been adopted by more than 500 aircraft as of February 2017. The
Iridium Safety Voice service provides aircraft operators with an
alternative to existing HF radio systems, replacing them with a
secure satellite-based option for long-range communications.
In August of 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
distributed an ‘Information for Operators’ (InFO) notice, alerting
aircraft operators of the modifications required to comply with
Policy Letter-106 which outlines how aircraft may operate with one
HF radio and one satellite communications (SATCOM) platform over
the West Atlantic Routing System (WATRS). The Iridium Safety Voice
service features a dialing system requiring multiple user
authentication steps for in-flight communications in addition to a
call priority system, ensuring urgent communications are not
interrupted.
Over the past few years Iridium has seen substantial adoption of
its aviation services with more than a 100 percent increase in
active airframes using the Safety Voice service between 2015 and
2017. The ability to add a satellite system using the Iridium
network as an alternative to a second HF system has several
benefits, including lower power requirements, lighter-weight
equipment, and better quality and coverage, resulting in increased
efficiency and fuel economy.
"With more than 500 active air transport aircraft around the
globe having already adopted Iridium’s Safety Voice service, we
know that the industry is hungry for this technology,” said Brian
Pemberton, vice president and general manager, aviation at Iridium.
“With the launch of Iridium NEXT and Iridium CertusSM products,
aircraft operators will soon have access to high quality, global
and cost-effective satcom solutions, with unparalleled performance,
that will positively impact their bottom lines.”
Pemberton continued, “The Iridium Safety Voice service adds
elements of safety, security and efficiency that are not available
with traditional, high-frequency systems. Adding Safety Voice to
the existing FANS 1/A data capability enables a full suite of
long-range flightdeck safety communications for efficient and
cost-effective air traffic control. The rapid adoption we’re seeing
by the industry is a testament to its value.”
Iridium is currently launching Iridium NEXT, the company’s
next-generation global satellite constellation. All existing
Iridium aviation services, including the Safety Voice service are
compatible with the new constellation. The first 10 Iridium NEXT
satellites were launched into low-Earth-orbit from Vandenberg Air
Force Base on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 14, 2017.
Seven additional SpaceX launches are scheduled to take place over
the next 12 to 15 months, delivering a total of 75 Iridium NEXT
satellites to orbit, including the second launch now targeted for
mid-June 2017. In total, the operational Iridium NEXT
constellation will consist of 66 satelliteswith nine satellites
serving as on-orbit spares.
The InFO can be read in its entirety at:
www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2015/InFO15008.pdf
For more information about Iridium, visit:
www.Iridium.com
About Iridium Communications Inc.Iridium is the
only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that
spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people,
organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time.
Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers
an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets
that require truly global communications. The company has begun
launching its next-generation network — Iridium NEXT. Iridium
Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and
its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under
the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium
products, services and partner solutions, visit
www.iridium.com.
Forward Looking StatementsStatements in this
press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute
forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has based these
statements on its current expectations and the information
currently available to us. Forward-looking statements in this
presentation include statements regarding the timing for
deployment, development and capabilities of the Iridium NEXT
constellation and services to be offered over the constellation,
including Iridium CertusSM. Forward-looking statements can be
identified by the words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,” “believes,”
“expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “likely,” “will,” “to be” and
other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events,
trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to
differ materially from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, uncertainties regarding potential delays in the Iridium
NEXT deployment, the development and functionality of Iridium NEXT
and related services, and the company’s ability to maintain the
health, capacity and content of its satellite constellation, as
well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive,
legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors
listed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 23, 2017, as well as
other filings Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time. There
is no assurance that Iridium’s expectations will be realized. If
one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if
Iridium's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results
may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected.
Iridium's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of
this press release, and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking statements.
Press Contact:
Diane Hockenberry
Iridium Communications Inc.
+1 (703) 287-7421
Diane.hockenberry@iridium.com
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