[Satellite TODAY 03-23-10] Thrane & Thrane’s Aero-SB+ SwiftBroadband solution has received Inmarsat type approval and parts manufacturer approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the manufacturer announced March 22.
    The approvals will provide Aero-SB+ users with access to the Inmarsat SwiftBroadband service and allow Thrane & Thrane to commence shipment of the system to its customers.
Aero SB+ aims to provide critical cockpit and safety data functions together with office-in-the-sky IP data and voice services, offering five channels for simultaneous voice and data and speeds up to 432 kilobits per second for business, government and military aviation applications.
    Following the approval, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration installed and tested Aero-SB+ aboard its ‘Miss Piggy’ aircraft, which is used for critical hurricane and storm research and reconnaissance.