Airbus Selects Inmarsat’s SB-S as Cockpit Safety Communications Solution

Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) service has been selected by Airbus as a cockpit communications solution for the A320 and A330 aircraft families.

SB-S will feature in the Airbus A320 single-aisle and A330 wide-body families.

The advanced IP-based broadband communications platform will be available with equipment from Cobham’s Aviator S series, as selected by Airbus, to deliver next generation services for the global aviation industry.

Using Inmarsat’s global L-band satellite network, SB-S delivers much faster data and voice communications due to its unprecedented speed and capacity, which are several orders of magnitude greater than cockpit communications systems in the market today.

These advanced capabilities will transform the quality and security of cockpit communication and information shared between pilots, air traffic controllers and airlines, with Inmarsat’s satellite technology also ensuring consistent, high-speed global coverage for SB-S.

Airlines around the world will also benefit from a myriad of new digital applications never before available, including continual positional awareness for flight tracking, flight data streaming (also known as ‘Black Box in the Cloud’), and electronic flight bag applications for pilots, such as graphical weather for improved situational awareness.

Captain Mary McMillan, Inmarsat Aviation’s Vice President, Safety and Operational Services, said, “SwiftBroadband-Safety will introduce unprecedented new capabilities, allowing airlines to significantly improve flight safety operations and provide a more efficient service to passengers. Airlines also benefit from continuous monitoring of aircraft performance and fuel usage.”

Inmarsat’s partner Cobham Satcom has been selected by Airbus to provide the equipment that delivers SB-S service onboard the A320 and A330 aircraft families. The equipment, known as the Aviator 200S and 700S, will provide a seamless connection between the aircraft cockpit and Inmarsat’s extensive global satellite network.

Under Cobham’s contract with Airbus, the equipment will be fitted onto the aircraft from 2018.

Kim Gram, Vice President of Aero Satcom at Cobham Satcom, said, “Inmarsat has made an immense contribution in the forward progression of our industry, from the development of the original idea of smaller and lighter satcom hardware, continuing its  influential work in industry standardization groups, to the ultimate deployment of services on its global satellite network.”

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