With the advent and widespread use of inexpensive cellular phone technology, many pilots and aircraft owners are looking for similar technology and capability while airborne. Some new technologies are emerging that — while not approaching the low cost of cellular — can be cost-effective nonetheless. One of them uses the Iridium satellite-based system and your existing audio panel, plus an installed exterior antenna. AVweb Publisher Carl Marbach took a close look at the system this week during EAA AirVenture.
Carl Marbach is a co-founder
of AVweb and its Publisher. Carl is a 4,000-hour pilot, and commutes between
homes in Boca Raton, Florida, and Aspen, Colorado, in his 1978 Aerostar 601P. Carl
was the founder and CEO of Professional Press which published five computer
magazines including DEC Professional. After Professional Press was acquired by
a venture capital firm, Carl founded Internetwork Publishing Corporation and
now devotes himself to the emerging field of electronic publishing via the
Internet. A lifelong resident of Philadelphia until 1994, Carl and his wife
Helen now live in Boca Raton, Florida.
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Using the 66 Iridium satellites in low earth orbit, Icarus Instruments has
developed an aircraft interface for the Kyocera satellite phone. The interface
plugs into the aircraft's microphone and headset jacks, and the pilot then plugs
his headset and microphone into the Icarus box. The box can be powered by a
cigarette lighter plug or other aircraft power. Icarus supplies a cable that
connects its box to the sat phone. A small satellite antenna mounted on the top
of the airplane provides full-time coverage from the Iridium constellation.
To make a call the pilot simply inputs the 10-digit telephone number and is
connected via his headset. AVweb placed a test call and found the quality
to be a bit below standard cellphone sound, but perfectly acceptable. There were
no delays, and the phone will work anywhere in the world. When an ATC
communication is sensed by the Icarus interface, the phone's volume is reduced
so the pilot can hear the ATC transmission. If the pilot keys his mike button to
respond to ATC, Icarus provides a synthesized voice message on the phone that
says, "Please stand by, the pilot is busy." When the pilot lets go of
the mike switch and begins talking again, the phone call is resumed.
Installation should be simple. The antenna needs to be installed by an
avionics shop, but the rest can be mounted on the yoke by the pilot.
The cost of the phone and the Icarus interface is $3,995. Iridium charges are
approximately $40 per month and the cost of each call averages less than $2 per
minute. While that's more than regular cellphone rates, it seems reasonable for
aircraft use. The phone can be disconnected easily and taken out of the airplane
for portable use. The Iridium service includes call waiting, call forwarding and
voice mail. An emergency operator can be accessed 24 hours a day in any of 13
languages by dialing 112. These calls receive immediate priority.
Icarus Instruments can be contacted at:
7000 Carroll Avenue
Suite 200
Takoma Park, MD 20912
The phone number is (301) 891-0600, and Icarus has its
own web site.
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The cost of the phone and the Icarus interface is $3,995. Iridium charges are
approximately $40 per month and the cost of each call averages less than $2 per
minute. While that's more than regular cellphone rates, it seems reasonable for
aircraft use. The phone can be disconnected easily and taken out of the airplane
for portable use. The Iridium service includes call waiting, call forwarding and
voice mail. An emergency operator can be accessed 24 hours a day in any of 13
languages by dialing 112. These calls receive immediate priority.
