The New York Air National Guard is turning to satellite-enabled technology for its research in Antarctica. Using the Iridium satellite network for voice and data communications, The unit has installed Iridium handsets, as well as communications interfaces from Flightcell, an Iridium value-added manufacturer, on its fleet of ski-equipped C130 aircraft. This system will provide communications when flying missions in Antarctica. The Flightcell technology enables the handsets to be used in the high noise environment inside the aircraft. Calls are connected through to crew members’ headsets, leaving their hands free for operational requirements.

The unit flies 560 missions per year to provide personnel, food and supplies for U.S. National Science Foundation scientists involved in the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP).

"The aircraft operate in one of the world’s most difficult and dangerous environments, with extremes of wind and cold, creating special communications challenges," Maj. William Smith, deputy Antarctic operations chief for the New York Air National Guard, said in a statement. "The frequent solar flares cause magnetic disturbances in the ionosphere, severely degrading HF radio communications. This means Iridium is often the only reliable communication link, providing an important margin of safety for the aircraft when flying in this region."

Smith added that the noise suppression technology supplied by Flightcell is essential for voice communications in the cockpit — without them it is nearly impossible to communicate due to high noise levels. The portability of the systems is also a plus. When weather conditions cause us to shut down flight operations, we can easily remove the Iridium phones from the aircraft and use them for communications in the base camp.

The New York Air National Guard also is looking at implementing Iridium-based flight following applications, as well as using the satellite systems to receive regular and automatic Space and Naval Warfare Systems weather reports and warnings. This would improve the efficiency of timing safe flights in and out of base camps and improve the unit’s ability to solicit, review and report weather conditions.

The Antarctic Program’s scientific goals are to understand the Antarctic and its associated ecosystems, to understand the region’s effects on and responses to global processes such as climate change, and to use Antarctica’s unique features to conduct scientific research that cannot be done as well elsewhere. The facilities include the McMurdo Antarctic Research Station, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and Palmer Station, as well as two research vessels and a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

Scientists on the ground at the South Pole Station are also using a multi-channel Iridium system to send and receive emails.