FAA Authorizes Iridium Satellite Data Service for Oceanic Airspace
By Jeffrey Hill | July 12, 2011
[Satellite TODAY 07-012-11] The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will authorize aircraft operating in oceanic airspace to use Iridium Communications’ satellite data service for critical air traffic control communications, Iridium announced July 11.
The authorization was the result of a five-year FAA evaluation for aircraft flying in airspace under FAA jurisdiction to use Future Air Navigation System (FANS) 1/A over Iridium (FOI) to meet communications requirements for air traffic control.
In a statement, Iridium CEO Matt Desch called the decision “an important milestone,” in providing its enterprise and commercial aircraft customers with an alternative for implementing FANS 1/A communications.
“We believe the FAA’s decision validates our position as the optimal satellite service for aircraft operational communications, and opens up significant new opportunities for Iridium in the aviation market. FOI, when implemented, has the potential to enable aircraft operators to reduce their capital investment by half,” said Desch.