BETHESDA, MD – Jakarta-based charter operator PT Travira Air will equip its fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft this summer with Iridium satellite communication systems to be provided by Sky Connect.
The Sky Connect system will provide automatic flight following to monitor fleet movements on a 24/7 basis via air-to-ground data links relayed through Iridium’s constellation of 66 low-earth-orbiting satellites. Travira Air will also use the system for cockpit voice communications when an operational requirement dictates a change in routing, or during an emergency. Travira’s Singapore-based medical aircraft will utilize the Iridium-based system for vital communications between on-board medical personnel and hospital medical staff.
“After an evaluation of several different systems, PT Travira Air made the decision to equip our entire fleet of 17 aircraft with the Sky Connect system,” said Darren Broderick, deputy chief pilot and commercial representative for PT Travira Air. “We are excited to be introducing this flight following capability, and the reaction from our customers has been extremely positive.”
Travira Air operates a fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing jets for a variety of customers, serving the oil and gas and mining industries, as well as tourist charters, air ambulance and medical evacuation, and VIP charters. The area of operation includes all of the Indonesian Archipelago and Southeast Asia.
Wiley Loughran, vice president of Sky Connect, said, “Our equipment will be a tremendous tool for the safety and operations of the Travira Air fleet. We are excited to add them to hundreds of other international operators that depend on our reliable equipment”
Greg Ewert, executive vice president of Iridium Satellite, said, “Sky Connect has been a true pioneer in the development of satellite tracking and communications for the aviation and maritime industries. The automatic flight following system for Travira Air is a good example of how Iridium’s global coverage and cost-effective data communication services can be leveraged to provide reliable air-to-ground communications for the worldwide aviation sector.”
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