ESSP and Viasat Sign Deal to Commercialize Iris Program

Left to right: Joel Klooster, SVP Aircraft Operations and Safety, Viasat; Antonio Garutti, head of Telecommunications System Projects Office, ESA; Charlotte Neyret, CEO, ESSP SAS. Photo: Viasat

Viasat is making key inroads in the European aviation arena as it starts to reap the benefits of its acquisition of Inmarsat. Through Inmarsat, it has signed a long-term contract to appoint ESSP (European Satellite Services Provider) as service provider for the Iris air traffic modernization program, as the final preparations for pre-commercial operations take place. Viasat announced the contract July 6.

ESSP will operate, provision, and lead the Iris service commercialization to European Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), including managing completion as the first Pan-European company certified for satellite-based communication service by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Led by the European Space Agency (ESA), Iris enables aircraft to fly more fuel-efficient routes by providing digital satellite communications to complement VHF data link, which is nearing a capacity crunch in congested airspace.

By digitally connecting the ATM ecosystem, it enhances collaboration between pilots and air traffic controllers to maximize airspace use and reduce the impact of disruptions for passengers, while also reducing emissions through the use of 4D trajectory-based operations. Iris will enter commercial and operational service fully in Europe next year with airlines including easyJet and ITA Airways, supporting the Single European Sky’s ATM Research (SESAR) masterplan.

“ESSP strongly believes in Iris as a pioneering Europe-wide satellite communications data link program and we are committed to developing, operating, and commercializing it for Europe at this early stage. ESSP is proud to contribute as a service provider to the expansion of Iris technology, which will bring a wide range of benefits to the aerospace industry, as Iris will allow the development of new environmentally friendly routes, which will improve ATC management, reduce fuel costs, and finally lead to the deployment of more efficient air operations, to name just a few of the program strengths,” Charlotte Neyret, CEO of ESSP, said in a statement.