Hawaiian Airlines Pioneers Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband for Safety Services

Operational Concept

[Avionics Today 09-18-2014] Hawaiian Airlines will become the first commercial airline to install Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband for flight deck applications, including Safety Services, on its Boeing 767-300s. The airline will use the system for Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) data messages, live Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) updates, and Airline Operational Communication (AOC) voice and data.  

SwiftBroadband is an IP-based packet-switched communications network that provides a symmetric ‘always-on’ data connection of up to 432 kbit/s per channel for aircraft globally except for the polar regions, using the Inmarsat satellite constellation.

 

Inmarsat Satellite Communications - SwiftBroadband, Swift Broadband, Satellite Service, Network, Handhelds 

SwiftBroadband - allows more simultaneous users and more demanding applications. Rates can be increased further by using parallel SwiftBroadband channels and data compression. SwiftBroadband supports both IP and circuit-switched applications, with a choice between contended services and data streaming on demand. SwiftBroadband enables all key cockpit and cabin applications, including: telephony, text messaging, email, internet and intranet access, as well as flight plan, weather and chart updates.

• Simultaneous voice and broadband data
• Contended IP data at up to 432kbps
• IP data streaming on demand at 32, 64, 128kbps, and X-Stream 256kbps
• GPRS, UMTS and ISDN compatible
• Currently one and two-channel avionics
• Standalone or simultaneous operation with other Inmarsat services
• May add acceleration to this service - See AeroX

20130501-The-Next-Generation-of-Aviation-Communications.pdf