WASHINGTON-Motorola Satellite Communications Inc. filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to modify its license for the Iridium mobile satellite system to include authority to provide aeronautical mobile satellite services.
AMS services are route services for voice and data that support flight safety communications between pilots and air traffic control authorities. The company said it plans to make AMS services available to parts of the aviation community previously unserved.
Iridium said its system can provide 100 percent global coverage for AMS services, operation with all classes of aircraft, compatibility with on-board Global Navigation Satellite Systems, compatibility with other AMS systems, direct pilot-to-controller communications, integrated operation completely within the MSS/AMS services spectrum and intrinsic mobility management, which means Iridium can provide communications to and from highly mobile subscriber terminals anywhere on earth.
AlliedSignal Inc. was selected as the equipment and service provider for Iridium’s aviation service.
AlliedSignal Commercial Avionics Systems-a unit of AlliedSignal Aerospace, which is a subsidiary of AlliedSignal Inc.-is responsible for design, manufacturing, and sales of the equipment to commercial passenger and cargo carriers, and private aircraft owners.
Iridium’s AMS services also would include passenger services, including both incoming and outgoing calls, data and fax services, the company said.
Iridium is a consortium of international telecom and industrial companies. To date, the group has raised $2.65 billion in project funding.
