Panasonic satcom tracking. Photo: Panasonic

[Via Satellite 06-10-2016] Panasonic Avionics has begun offering worldwide satellite tracking to all Global Communications Services and FlightLink customers. According to Panasonic, when the company’s Global Communications Services and FlightLink solutions are combined with Panasonic’s AirMap application, they immediately satisfy the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) definitions for both normal and abnormal tracking.
Paul Margis, president and CEO for Panasonic Avionics said the company can “seamlessly” enable flight tracking on more than 1,500 aircraft immediately, and expects to extend this capability to more than 3,500 aircraft over the short term.
To support these satellite-based solutions, Panasonic has deployed ground- and aircraft-based communications solutions that enable tracking of aircraft in a variety of ways that support airline operations and exceed the minimum requirements of the current ICAO guidance. The AirMap application is the airline portal into these operations and provides them a graphical way to monitor, track and receive alerts on their aircraft.
The flight tracking is based on the company’s Ku-band eXConnect broadband and Iridium satellite communications solutions. This allows airlines to integrate cockpit and crew communications with their flight tracking capabilities as well as gives them the opportunity to use voice or text messaging to contact an aircraft based on the situational awareness they receive from Panasonic’s tracking solutions.