Honeywell Aerospace will now offer AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter owners its Aspire 200 satcom system. Awarded an STC by the FAA, the Aspire 200 system enables helicopter operators to utilize SwiftBroadband, a connectivity service provided through Inmarsat-4 satellites. Aspire 200 with the High Data Rate (HDR) software upgrade supports voice and streaming data rates up to 650kbps.
Honeywell Aerospace says that in the past, the helicopter’s rotor blades would interfere and block satcom signals to the helicopter; the Aspire 200 and HDR software addresses this problem using a proprietary Long Burst Interleaver.
“The Aspire 200 HDR solution can transmit more data, faster, than any other L-band system on the market, creating a cost-effective, lightweight and highly capable system for helicopter operators,” said Tom Hart, vice president, defense and space, Honeywell Aerospace. “Honeywell already provides leading avionics for helicopters, and the new high-speed data transfer capabilities will complement our existing onboard technology and further enhance the safety and operational efficiency for operators.”
Honeywell says its STC for the AW139 platform also simplifies the path for other helicopter types to obtain an STC. Honeywell worked with Safran Engineering Services and Pro Star Aviation on the STC.
November 23, 2015
