Making its Paris debut aboard the Bombardier Global 5000 is the latest Inmarsat-based satcoms system from Rockwell Collins (Hall 4, A2). The SAT-6100 forms part of the Ethernet-based Airshow 21 cabin network fitted to the first operational example of the big bizjet, which entered service with a Middle Eastern corporate operator a month ago.
On the Global 5000 Airshow 21 supports a wide range of cabin functions, from environmental controls to entertainment and connectivity. Hardware includes a hand controller with a graphical user interface, a wired LAN giving multiple users air-to-ground connectivity via SAT-6100 as well as onboard access to a printer, fax and file-server, and provision for the addition of a wireless LAN.
SAT-6100 comprises the SRT-2100 satellite transceiver and one or two HST-2100 high-speed data units. The package can provide three Inmarsat Aero I/H/H+ channels operating at up to 10.5kbit/sec, and one or two channels of Swift64 64kbit/sec service.
A 50W high-power amplifier allows simultaneous usage of two voice channels, two high-speed data channels, and a low-speed data channel for safety (ATC) services. Inmarsat's 432kbit/sec SwiftBroadband capability is due to be added towards the end of next year. As well as fax, email and Internet and VPN access, the system can support STE and STU-III secure communications.
SAT-6100 works with all Inmarsat-approved intermediate and high-gain antennas, whether mounted on the fin or on top of the fuselage, mechanically steered or phased array.
Entertainment is among the other capabilities supported by the Airshow 21 network on the static park's Global 5000, which carries a VCR, DVD players, satellite TV and a multi-disc CD-changer. On-demand audio/video can also be supported, according to Rockwell Collins.
Passengers and crew can use the network to manage environmental systems - multi-zone temperature controls, coloured LED cabin lighting, water and waste systems - in the cabin, galley and lavatory. And a centralised maintenance function, claimed to be the first in business aviation, permits the collection and processing of diagnostic data from all cabin systems.
Other satcoms news from Rockwell Collins includes an order from Shenzhen Airlines for an avionics package for six new Airbus A319/A320s that includes Inmarsat Aero I intermediate-gain system, designed for use in narrowbodies operating over regional ranges.
The US company has also been selected to supply Airbus and Italian airline Alitalia with equipment associated with datalink-based air traffic management systems.
Rockwell Collins France is integrating the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) router in the air traffic services unit (ATSU) fitted to Airbus single-aisle and long-range aircraft. ATN can accommodate newer air-to-ground communications technologies such as VDL-2 and satcoms. Adding ATN capability to the ATSU is intended to boost data capacity and improve service quality of service by comparison with the current-standard ACARS air-to-ground datalink.
Rockwell Collins is supplying Alitalia with its CMU-900 communications management unit, which supports data communications between pilots and controllers, and APM-900 aircraft personality module, which permanently stores an airframe's unique parameters and supplies them to CMU-900 for identification purposes.
Newly established subsidiary Alitalia Servizi is responsible for installations in Alitalia's fleet of up to 139 Boeing 767s, McDonnell Douglas MD-11s and MD-82s, and Airbus A319s, A320s and A321s.
The Rockwell equipment will allow Alitalia to take part in Europe's Link 2000+ transition to en route controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC), being introduced to ease congestion on voice networks and increase flexibility and efficiency.
Source: Flight Daily News