Honeywell to Offer Aspire 200 Satellite Communications System to AW139 Owners

Honeywell Aerospace has confirmed that it will offer AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter owners its Aspire 200 satellite communications system, an high-speed wireless broadband solution.

Awarded a supplemental type certificate (STC) by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Aspire 200 system enables helicopters to utilize SwiftBroadband, an aircraft connectivity service provided through Inmarsat-4 satellites.

Aspire 200 with the High Data Rate (HDR) software upgrade supports voice and streaming data rates up to 650kbps.

In the past, the helicopter’s rotor blades would interfere and block satellite communications signals to the helicopter. The Honeywell Aspire 200 and HDR software address this problem using a proprietary Long Burst Interleaver. The software backbone of the system penetrates the aircraft’s rotor washes to bring high-speed data services to the helicopter, significantly improving data communications for the commercial helicopter market and critical missions such as search and rescue, and oil and gas.

“The Aspire 200 High Data Rate solution can transmit more data, faster, than any other L-band system on the market, creating a cost-effective, lightweight and highly capable system for helicopter operators,” said Tom Hart, vice president, Defense and Space, Honeywell Aerospace. “Honeywell already provides leading avionics for helicopters, and the new high-speed data transfer capabilities will complement our existing onboard technology and further enhance the safety and operational efficiency for operators.”