Reliable Robotics and Inmarsat collaborate on commercial satellite communications solution for remote piloted aircraft.....

A Memorandum of understanding signifies a major step towards safely integrating remotely piloted cargo aircraft to meet the growing demand for air freight.

Inmarsat has announced a collaboration with Reliable Robotics, a leader in safety-enhancing aircraft automation systems, to support the safe, secure and efficient integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems into the US National Airspace System and airspace worldwide.

Inmarsat’s Velaris satellite communications service provides connectivity between remote pilots and aircraft for airspace access, including voice and digital communication links with air traffic control. By using existing certified airframes and commercial satellite networks, this new operating model can be brought to market quickly, without costly infrastructure, to expand the operational range for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). 

Automation and remotely piloted aircraft could be key to supporting the future growth of freight volumes and alleviating the pressure on stretched supply chains, particularly for time-sensitive deliveries. Reliable Robotics is driving the industry forward with the automation of cargo aircraft to increase safety, improve efficiency and open up more routes to regional airports. However, automated aircraft technologies must be highly reliable and achieve required global certifications and regulatory safety approvals to gain access to airspace.  

Greener flights coming to Italy as ITA Airways set to join Iris Air Traffic Modernisation Programme

Digitally-connected flights to and from Italy will be available from this summer, as ITA Airways rolls out the European Space Agency (ESA) and Inmarsat’s ground-breaking Iris data link technology to the cockpits of its full aircraft fleet, contributing to airspace modernisation in Europe.

ITA Airways will be the first full service carrier in Europe to join Iris. The programme enables aircraft to fly more fuel-efficient routes by providing digital satellite communications to complement VHF data link, which is nearing a capacity crunch in congested airspace. Without fast and reliable data links between aircraft and the ground, air traffic managers cannot unlock the 8-10% reduction in CO2 emissions identified by EUROCONTROL from improved Air Traffic Management (ATM). Iris will allow ATM players to better anticipate and collaborate to maximise airspace use, reducing the impact of disruptions for passengers while reducing emissions.

The Italian national carrier will equip its full fleet of new Airbus A320neo and A330neo aircraft deliveries with Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S), the award-winning platform flying on more than 230 aircraft globally, which powers Iris. Its aircraft will also play a significant role in Iris demonstration flights, which will take place across European airspace supported by 14 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) during 2023.

Air passengers’ confidence eight times higher than a year ago................83% now happy to fly

More than eight in ten passengers (83%) feel confident flying again, a significant rise from just one in ten (10%) this time last year, according to Inmarsat’s 2022 Passenger Experience Survey[1], which surveyed more than 11,000 people worldwide who have travelled by air in the past 12 months.

New research among 11,000 global air travellers finds 97% of passengers use personal devices when flying, as desire for inflight Wi-Fi grows 40% since before the pandemic

Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash

Despite ongoing travel challenges, confidence in air travel has returned in full force. This is true across the globe, with Brazil and Saudi Arabia (90%) the most confident, the UK close to average (81%), and South Korea (53%) the least. Now, airlines are focused on creating the best possible flying experience, especially when it comes to inflight connectivity, which is no surprise given that 97% of passengers currently use their personal devices when flying.

A large majority (77%) said that inflight Wi-Fi is important to them when they travel – up from just 55% in the first survey in 2018. This growth was most pronounced in the Middle East, as 94% and 92% of passengers from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, respectively, say Wi-Fi is important in the air.

This offers a major opportunity for airlines, as 82% of passengers globally said they would rebook with an airline that offered quality inflight Wi-Fi, with 92% of business travellers and 90% of parents with children under 18 agreeing. Just 67% agreed before the pandemic, demonstrating how much more important inflight Wi-Fi has become.