Avidyne MLX770 Satellite Datalink Receiver Gains Iridium Certification
Iridium approval paves the way for activation of Avidyne’s worldwide datalink weather service.
Orlando, FL, October 05, 2008 --(PR.com)-- NBAA — Avidyne Corporation, a leading provider of integrated flight deck and safety systems for general aviation aircraft, announced today that its MLX770 Satellite Datalink Transceiver has received system certification by Iridium Satellite LLC. The approval gives Avidyne the authority to operate on the global Iridium satellite network, paving the way for the launch of Avidyne’s innovative worldwide datalink weather service.
“We are pleased to welcome Avidyne to the growing family of value-added partners,” said Don Thoma, executive vice president of Iridium Satellite. Avidyne’s Datalink product leverages Iridium’s global connectivity and robust two-way low-latency data channels to develop innovative new products for the burgeoning aeronautical satcom market,”
“This certification by Iridium represents the clearing of another major technical and programmatic hurdle for Avidyne,” said Patrick Herguth, Avidyne’s Chief Operating Officer. “This moves us another step closer to meeting the launch date for our worldwide datalink weather system.”
The MLX770 will provide huge situational awareness and safety benefits for all those Avidyne customers flying in airspace outside the continental United States (CONUS) where broadcast datalink weather information is unavailable. Avidyne customers operating within CONUS now have the option of Broadcast Datalink via Sirius® or XM®, Two-way Datalink using the MLX770 and Iridium, or Avidyne’s exclusive MultiLink™, which combines the benefits of broadcast datalink and two-way datalink for added redundancy and increased capability.
Introduced earlier this year, the MLX770 is on target to begin initial shipments in mid-Q4 2008 as originally scheduled. Avidyne has also announced a partnership with WSI to expand its graphical weather offerings to additional regions around the globe. (See companion release.)
Utilizing Avidyne’s Network Operations Center (NOC) and the Iridium low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, the MLX770 delivers strategic datalink weather services to Entegra- and EX500-equipped aircraft. The MLX770 also provides two-way textual communications available with satellite signal coverage at all altitudes, even on the ground. Datalink weather services include graphical and textual METARs, TAFs, and Winds & Temperatures Aloft. Radar and Lightning are also available as premium offerings. Additionally, the MLX770 provides convenient two-way SMS text messaging from the airborne Avidyne MFD to any ground-based SMS-capable mobile phone or e-mail address, allowing pilots to communicate with family and friends from their aircraft in flight.
Pricing and Availability
The price for the globally-capable MLX770 Two-Way Datalink Transceiver with antenna starts at $11,995 USD plus installation. Avidyne is accepting orders now for the MLX770, with initial deliveries expected to begin in mid-Q4. Service pricing is expected to average $70-$120 per month based on 10 hours of flying per month. For information, international customers can contact Avidyne via telephone at +1 512.331.5323 in the USA or via e-mail at avidyne.com.
About Iridium Satellite (www.iridium.com)
Iridium Satellite LLC is the only mobile satellite service (MSS) company offering gap-free, pole-to-pole coverage over the entire globe. The Iridium constellation of low-earth orbiting (LEO), cross-linked satellites provides critical voice and data services for areas not served by other communication networks. Iridium’s subscriber growth has been driven by increasing demand for reliable, secure, global communications. Iridium serves commercial markets through a worldwide network of hundreds of distributors, and provides services to the U.S. Department of Defense, and other U.S. and international government agencies. The company’s customers represent a broad spectrum of industry, including maritime, aeronautical, government/defense, public safety, utilities, oil/gas, mining, forestry, heavy equipment and transportation. Iridium has launched a major development program for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT, which will result in continued and new Iridium MSS offerings. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md. and is privately held.
About Avidyne Corporation (www.avidyne.com)
Avidyne’s continuing leadership in innovation and its Flying Made Simple™ system design make flying safer, more accessible and more enjoyable for pilots and their passengers. The company’s expanding line of products include the industry-leading Entegra integrated flight deck systems for new and existing aircraft, datalink-capable EX5000 and EX500 multi-function displays and the dual-antenna TAS600 series of active traffic advisory systems, the MLB700 broadcast datalink receiver, the MLX770 world-wide datalink transceiver, and the TWX670 Tactical Weather Detection system. Headquartered in Lincoln, MA, the company has facilities in Columbus, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Boulder, CO.
###
Avidyne® and Entegra™ are trademarks of Avidyne Corporation. All other products or services are identified by trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
“We are pleased to welcome Avidyne to the growing family of value-added partners,” said Don Thoma, executive vice president of Iridium Satellite. Avidyne’s Datalink product leverages Iridium’s global connectivity and robust two-way low-latency data channels to develop innovative new products for the burgeoning aeronautical satcom market,”
“This certification by Iridium represents the clearing of another major technical and programmatic hurdle for Avidyne,” said Patrick Herguth, Avidyne’s Chief Operating Officer. “This moves us another step closer to meeting the launch date for our worldwide datalink weather system.”
The MLX770 will provide huge situational awareness and safety benefits for all those Avidyne customers flying in airspace outside the continental United States (CONUS) where broadcast datalink weather information is unavailable. Avidyne customers operating within CONUS now have the option of Broadcast Datalink via Sirius® or XM®, Two-way Datalink using the MLX770 and Iridium, or Avidyne’s exclusive MultiLink™, which combines the benefits of broadcast datalink and two-way datalink for added redundancy and increased capability.
Introduced earlier this year, the MLX770 is on target to begin initial shipments in mid-Q4 2008 as originally scheduled. Avidyne has also announced a partnership with WSI to expand its graphical weather offerings to additional regions around the globe. (See companion release.)
Utilizing Avidyne’s Network Operations Center (NOC) and the Iridium low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, the MLX770 delivers strategic datalink weather services to Entegra- and EX500-equipped aircraft. The MLX770 also provides two-way textual communications available with satellite signal coverage at all altitudes, even on the ground. Datalink weather services include graphical and textual METARs, TAFs, and Winds & Temperatures Aloft. Radar and Lightning are also available as premium offerings. Additionally, the MLX770 provides convenient two-way SMS text messaging from the airborne Avidyne MFD to any ground-based SMS-capable mobile phone or e-mail address, allowing pilots to communicate with family and friends from their aircraft in flight.
Pricing and Availability
The price for the globally-capable MLX770 Two-Way Datalink Transceiver with antenna starts at $11,995 USD plus installation. Avidyne is accepting orders now for the MLX770, with initial deliveries expected to begin in mid-Q4. Service pricing is expected to average $70-$120 per month based on 10 hours of flying per month. For information, international customers can contact Avidyne via telephone at +1 512.331.5323 in the USA or via e-mail at avidyne.com.
About Iridium Satellite (www.iridium.com)
Iridium Satellite LLC is the only mobile satellite service (MSS) company offering gap-free, pole-to-pole coverage over the entire globe. The Iridium constellation of low-earth orbiting (LEO), cross-linked satellites provides critical voice and data services for areas not served by other communication networks. Iridium’s subscriber growth has been driven by increasing demand for reliable, secure, global communications. Iridium serves commercial markets through a worldwide network of hundreds of distributors, and provides services to the U.S. Department of Defense, and other U.S. and international government agencies. The company’s customers represent a broad spectrum of industry, including maritime, aeronautical, government/defense, public safety, utilities, oil/gas, mining, forestry, heavy equipment and transportation. Iridium has launched a major development program for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT, which will result in continued and new Iridium MSS offerings. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md. and is privately held.
About Avidyne Corporation (www.avidyne.com)
Avidyne’s continuing leadership in innovation and its Flying Made Simple™ system design make flying safer, more accessible and more enjoyable for pilots and their passengers. The company’s expanding line of products include the industry-leading Entegra integrated flight deck systems for new and existing aircraft, datalink-capable EX5000 and EX500 multi-function displays and the dual-antenna TAS600 series of active traffic advisory systems, the MLB700 broadcast datalink receiver, the MLX770 world-wide datalink transceiver, and the TWX670 Tactical Weather Detection system. Headquartered in Lincoln, MA, the company has facilities in Columbus, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Boulder, CO.
###
Avidyne® and Entegra™ are trademarks of Avidyne Corporation. All other products or services are identified by trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
Contact
Avidyne Corporation
Kate Rambo
617-236-0500
http://www.avidyne.com/
Kate Rambo
617-236-0500
http://www.avidyne.com/
Contact
Categories