Validation of Supplemental Type Certificate (VSTC) for Cobham AVIATOR 300 on Airbus A320 series is the first time a SwiftBroadband ACARS-capable modem has received CAAC certification
LYNGBY, Denmark - The Cobham SATCOM AVIATOR 300D system has
received a Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)
Validation of Supplemental Type Certificate (VSTC) for
installation aboard the Airbus A320 series. It is the first time a
SwiftBroadband ACARS (Aircraft Communication and Addressing
Reporting System)-capable modem has received Chinese
certification.
The significant Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) means that
Chinese airlines and Chinese-registered aircraft can now order and
install the Cobham solution on the Airbus aircraft A319, A320 and
A321 to benefit from improved communications, connectivity, flight
safety and operations on-board.
Enabling cockpit connectivity for ACARS over SwiftBroadband on
the Airbus aircraft, AVIATOR 300D uses Inmarsat SwiftBroadband IP
data and circuit-switched voice capabilities to provide services
such as aircraft flight tracking information and Ethernet ports for
connecting devices such as Aircraft Interface Devices (AIDs) and
Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) for the pilots to obtain real-time
information including graphical weather updates. AVIATOR 300D also
has the bandwidth to send the real-time data of the aircraft health
monitoring systems, such as engine monitoring.
Jianmin Cui, Director for Cobham SATCOM China Operations, said:
"This certification for our AVIATOR 300D system is very important
for the industry in this region and is also a significant milestone
for Cobham as we can now offer Chinese airlines a low cost, compact
Inmarsat satcom solution. It is a first for the industry, for
Inmarsat and also for Cobham. This system provides Chinese airlines
an optimal option to comply with the CAAC 4 minute-mandate with
more capable data applications.
"The installation of our system on the Airbus aircraft will
introduce many benefits for airlines. For example, airlines' flight
operations departments will have the ability to access aircraft
data in real time from the ground while the aircraft is in flight,
which will significantly improve flight safety and operational
efficiencies."
The VSTC is developed and owned by Avionics Support Group Inc
(ASG) for the SwiftBroadband Unit and Delta G for the antenna.
The AVIATOR 300D system, which features the compact and
lightweight Intermediate Gain Antenna IGA-5001 to ensure a low
profile on the fuselage, provides for fast and reliable
connectivity on the Inmarsat SwiftBroadband I-4 satellite network.
The system supports high quality, low-cost voice calling and the
full complement of data services and provides near global coverage,
on the ground or in the air.
Further advantages include recurrent maintenance savings due to
the high reliability of the AVIATOR system and recurrent weight
savings (approximately 50 to 150lbs) over traditional legacy SATCOM
systems.
The full Cobham SATCOM AVIATOR range includes the revolutionary
AVIATOR S series, AVIATOR 700 and 700D, AVIATOR 350 with High Gain
Antenna (HGA), AVIATOR 300D with IGA as well as the exceptionally
compact and lightweight AVIATOR 200 with Low Gain Antenna
(LGA).
About Cobham SATCOM
Providing dependable communications and internet access
anywhere under the most demanding conditions.
Our satellite and radio communication terminals perform in the
most challenging and remote environments on land, at sea and in the
air.
We design and manufacture these high performance products under
the AVIATOR, EXPLORER, SAILOR and Sea Tel brands providing
customers with outstanding performance, value and support through
our global sales and service network.
About Cobham
The most important thing we build is trust.
Cobham is a leading global technology and services innovator,
respected for providing solutions to the most challenging problems,
from deep space to the depths of the ocean.
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