Cathay Pacific Airways has become the first airline customer to sign for Arinc's Iridium global satellite communications network services, writes Leithen Francis.
Arinc says the Hong Kong-based carrier will install the Iridium satellite telephone system on seven Boeing 747-200 freighters.
"When our freighters are out of VHF range, flightcrews will be able to pick up [an Iridium] phone and make a call to our integrated operations centre or vice-versa," according to Cathay flight operations general manager Russell Davie.
The Iridium voice solution uses a compact avionics package and antenna from the International Communications Group.
The Newport News, Virginia company already had a supplemental type certificate for installation of the equipment on 747s and one of the Cathay 747-200Fs has already has the equipment installed.
Iridium is a constellation of 66 orbiting satellites.
Source: Flight International
