Honeywell has resumed marketing of Iridium-based worldwide satellite communications (satcom) systems for aircraft.
Before Iridium went bankrupt in 1999, AlliedSignal (now Honeywell) had exclusive rights to market single-channel systems and provide service to general aviation operators. Now the low-Earth-orbit satcom system has resumed operations.
Honeywell's Airsat 1 equipment and OneLink service is available immediately. Equipment will cost roughly $29,500 per shipset, and call costs will range from $2.25 to $3.75 per minute. The system consists of an aircraft-mounted transceiver and antenna and a telephone handset which is also compatible with GSM mobile networks.
The current satellite constellation has an expected life of over five years. System operator Boeing will launch seven spare spacecraft beginning next year.
Source: Flight International