1. Cell phone service providers are now offering Wi-Fi Calling as a standard feature on smart phones. With this feature, smart phone voice and text works in the aircraft allowing users to make and receive calls and text messages on their personal devices during all phases of flight. This feature not only works on the aircraft but anywhere the cell phone has weak coverage such as at home, in the office and even in metal buildings.
2. AirSatOne’s FlightStream products are configured by default to allow Wi-Fi Calling to seamlessly pass through the satellite network and our infrastructure.
3. Wi-Fi Calling allows phone calls and text messaging to and from smart phones by using a Wi-Fi network instead of a cellular network.
4. With Wi-Fi Calling, smart phones now have coverage where there is weak or no cell coverage including onboard aircraft equipped with a Satcom system with at least 200 kbps and a Wi-Fi router.
5. The Wi-Fi Calling feature means that when a call is placed to the cell phone number of someone on the aircraft the phone will ring just as it would on the ground.
6. Carrier-branded Wi-Fi Calling has the software baked directly into the phone's dialer, so you don't need to fire up an app or connect to a 3rd party service to use it. When the device is on the aircraft and loses cell coverage, it will automatically switch to Wi-Fi calling.
7. Calls and text messages can be made, in the aircraft, from the smart phone using your existing contacts or via manual entry. Phone calls can also be made by launching the call from an email with a phone number or a web page that has recognizable phone numbers.
8. Flight crews can use their existing phone book and program phone numbers for ATC, FBO’s, Maintenance Facilities, OEM Support or other specialized contacts.
9. Built in Wi-Fi Calling in smartphones use a technology called AMR Wideband (AMR-WB). AMR stands for Adaptive Multi-Rate, which is an audio codec with compression optimized for speech coding. AMR-WB supports dynamic adaptation to network conditions usinglower bit rates during network congestion or degradation while preserving audio quality. The technology used in smartphone Wi-Fi calling will make adjustments based on the Wi-Fi network it is connected to. Aircraft Satcom systems have limited bandwidth, which is detected by the AMR software so calls are automatically adjust to a lower bit rate, which uses less data.
10. Wi-Fi calls use data. Billing is at the standard per MB rate according to the customer’s monthly, quarterly or yearly package.
Instructions:
1. Contact AirSatOne to get FlightStream SA active if you do not have it already. FlightStream SA cost $0, provides compression and allows Wi-Fi calling to seamlessly pass through the network. Another option is to incorporate our FlightStream AOC Wi-Fi router, which provides compression and is set by factory default to allow Wi-Fi Calling to seamlessly pass through the satellite network.
2. Activate Wi-Fi Calling through your cell phone service provider. To get Wi-Fi Calling activated the smartphone must have a compatible Apple iOS or Android operating systems. Check with your provider to see which phones currently support Wi-Fi Calling.
3. For more information, visit your carriers Wi-Fi Calling information page. See following page for links to cell phone providers.
Wi-Fi Calling links to cell phone carriers
SwiftBroadband is a satellite service that has global coverage (except the poles) that was designed specifically for aviation. The service provides a connection on the ground, over oceans and around the world.
SatCom is a blend of two words - Satellite Communications.
The Aircell Aviator is a SwiftBroadband Satcom system made by Cobham (Formally Thrane & Thrane). Air Sat One provides airtime and technical support for our customers using the Aircell Aviator.
The Aircell Aviator 200 and the Aircell Aviator 300/350 have different SwiftBroadband price structures. The Aviator 350 will also require a Datalink service plan in addition to Broadband internet service.
Our price guide for the Aircell Aviator systems can be downloaded here:
Aircell / GoGo Aviator 200: Aviator 200 Price Guide
Aircell / GoGo Aviator 300: Aviator 300 Price Guide
Aircell / GoGo Aviator 350: Aviator 350 Price Guide & Datalink Price Guide
CPDLC stands for Controller / Pilot Datalink Communications. It is a digital way of sending text messages for communication between ATC and the Pilot instead of voice communications.
CPDLC is typically used as part of the FANS 1/A flight environment. FANS 1/A consists of both ADS-C and CPDLC. ADS-C is the automated position information portion where CPDLC is communications between the Pilot and the Controller. CPDLC has been historically been used outside the radar controlled environment and used in the FANS 1/A controlled airspace. Due to radio congestion, misinterpretation and missed voice communications CPDLC is gaining popularity in the radar control environment where VHF voice communications has traditionally taken place. CPDLC can be used by itself, without ADS-C, and can be transmitted via VHF of SatCom with relatively low latency - basically the message gets where it need to go right away with practically un-noticeable delay.
CPDLC text messages are entered on the flight crews CDU (control display unit) keypad. Messages are constructed by pressing logical keys that construct the message using canned text. The flight crew should not have to hand spell the text messages – they should only have to enter a few characters or numbers on occasion.
Once the message is sent the flight crew will get an acknowledgment that the message was received. If the message was sent while using CPDLC in the FANS 1/A environment there are requirements for how long the message response takes from both ATC to Pilot and Pilot to ATC. These response times take into account the time the digital message takes to make its trip and the time that a human being would need to respond – the total round trip is taken into consideration to determine the separation needed to conduct safe flight.
SwiftBroadband is a satellite service that has global coverage (except the poles) that was designed specifically for aviation. The service provides a connection on the ground, over oceans, and around the world.
In a business jet, it is good for email, web surfing, weather, flight planning, and phone calls. Streaming video and audio typically requires more bandwidth, although lower quality video can be streamed with High Gain systems. For special mission applications, SBB can be used to stream compressed video, upload and download data, and remotely control UAV’s.
You will need an antenna mounted on top of the aircraft and supporting hardware installed in the aircraft. In the past Ethernet connections were located at every seat but today most devices customers carry onboard are Wi-Fi capable so the cost of installation can be reduced by just installing a Wi-Fi router in the aircraft – care must be taken to ensure a good Wi-Fi signal covering the flight deck to the back of the aircraft. For a list of hardware choices, we have them listed on our price guide section here: https://www.airsatone.com/swiftbroadband
Start with the antenna – with any SatCom system, always start with the antenna because it is the most critical component; it is the hardest to fit and may require special certification. Once you or your avionics shop determines what antenna will fit, then get a quote from your avionics mod center to determine the cost of an installed system.
If your aircraft has a radome on top of the tail, the best choice is a high gain system – you must make sure the aircraft has an actual radome and not a tail cap. A true radome will be invisible (or almost) to radio waves. If there is no radome on top or one can’t be installed, then the antenna needs to go on top of the fuselage. Almost all business jets can handle a Low Gain (SB200) or an Intermediate Gain antenna. High Gain antennas are typically found on larger business jets. If you need further advice, feel free to Contact us.
The cost from AirSatOne is anywhere from $3.98 to $5.95 per MB (Megabyte), depending on the plan the customer chooses. Monthly airtime cost average around $1,000 a month and up. Our price guides are available online and can be found here: https://www.airsatone.com/swiftbroadband
Due to the cost of SatCom airtime, it is advisable to use a service provider that can provide a number of options to control and monitor airtime usage. AirSatOne can manage content and consumption through our Flightstream SA service.
The main difference between SBB systems is speed (see below) and antenna size, which go hand in hand. SB200 systems uses a non-directional antenna. The advantage of SB200 is simplicity and small antenna size, which means lower hardware cost and lower installation cost. The new SB200 Class 4 features smaller hardware and is designed to see the satellites better with connectivity down to 5 degrees, and it was designed to support Safety Services, so it is good for FANS 1/A (ADS-C & CPDLC), Datalink and Safety Voice - to qualify for this the Class 4 system must be certified to DO-178B Level D and specifically made to support these services.
“SwiftBroadband” refers to all of the services mentioned, but it is typically applied to Intermediate and High Gain systems. Intermediate and High gain systems have antennae’s that point at the satellite, which allows faster speeds (which everyone wants), but they do have bigger antennae’s and cost more for the hardware and installation.
SB200 airtime is billed at a different rate than SwiftBroadband, and the new SB200 Class 4 is billed at a different rate as well, so there are price guides for each.
Click here for our SB200 Class 4 price guide and here for SB200 and SwiftBroadband Intermediate and High Gain price guides.
With SB200 and the new SB200 Class 4, you can expect up to 238 kbps. With an Intermediate gain system, you can expect up to 332 kbps, and with a High Gain system you can expect up to 432 kbps. Typically with a High Gain system, the hardware is also designed to connect to Aero H / H+ service for Datalink and Safety Voice. SwiftBroadband channels can be combined for faster speeds. Our Flightstream AOC router can be used to combine 2 or more channels.
The bottom line is the size of the antenna and the distance the signal must travel to lock on to the satellite. Combine that with the fact that the antenna is mounted on something that is traveling at a high rate of speed, so having a small antenna is critical. If it was possible to mount any size antenna we wanted on the outside of the aircraft, we could deliver blazing speeds.
Satellite networks that deliver internet to aircraft are specially designed to seamlessly hand off the connection when traveling between beams – without dropping the connection and having to reacquire constantly. This is a challenge that ordinary communications satellites can’t handle.
As an interesting note, aircraft SatCom systems adjust for doppler shift due to the speed they travel to and away from the satellite. When an aircraft is flying directly toward the satellite, the frequency is compressed (or increased) due to the doppler effect; the SatCom system lowers its frequency, so the net result is a signal that is on frequency, the opposite occurs when flying away from the satellite. All combined, some amazing technology is required to deliver internet to the aircraft.
Flight planning apps include ARINCDirect, ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, and Jeppesen Mobile Flight Deck. These flight planning apps can use anywhere from 60 Megabytes to 120 Megabytes an hour, depending on active weather layers and other live feeds. If you are on AirSatOne’s 500 MB a month plan and using Wi-Fi for your flight planning app, it will cost around $290 to $590 an hour for data usage. Hopefully, in the future, flight planning providers will optimize their apps to use less data over Satcom or “metered connections.”
*** Just before your flight, connect to a local unmetered hotspot, open your flight planning app and update your database, charts, and download weather and other info along the flight path. Do not attempt to do this when connected to the aircraft's Wi-Fi network - the cost will be excessive, and it will most likely tie up all bandwidth for quite some time. MAKE SURE ALL MOBILE DEVICES HAVE THEIR WI-FI SET TO LOW DATA MODE OR METERED NETWORK.
When flying USA domestic, there are other sources of live weather feeds through ADS-B IN and XM Weather that can be taken advantage of. Whats the difference between Sirius XM Weather and ADS-B IN?
When flying internationally, having the ability to have a live feed over Satcom to your flight planning app is a safety feature and highly desirable; the flight crew can see weather along the entire flight path and make changes to the route as the flight progresses. A smooth & safe ride means happy passengers – these are important points to get across to the principals. Most business jets have Datalink (AFIS / ACARS) and can get weather information on their FMS, but weather through Datalink is slow and antiquated, portable EFB’s connected to the aircraft Satcom system is a better choice.
Our Flightstream SA service can allow Flight Planning apps to pass through your aircrafts internet service, or they can be blocked – all this can be configured remotely through our portal without having to gain access to the aircraft and can be done at any time. Once the Satcom system is turned on, the new settings will be waiting to be applied.
The FAA is deploying CPDLC-DCL throughout the USA, and Harris Corporation is the prime contractor selected to implement the service. AirSatOne provides activation and connectivity through our Datalink services.
If you have issues with the service and AirSatOne is your provider, contact us via our 24/7 support phone or email address. AirSatOne can research your datalink logs end-to-end through our FANS 1/A dedicated servers and/or through the CPDLC-DCL network to determine the cause of the problem. All other CPDLC-DCL users with issues can contact Harris Corporation via email at opr@harris(dot com).
The CPDLC-DCL system delivers departure clearances (both initial and revised) to your FMS. Messages are delivered over VHF Data Link Mode 2 directly to the aircraft or over Satcom through AirSatOne's Datalink service. Your aircraft must be FANS 1/A equipped.
The FAA selected Harris Corp as the prime contractor for implementing US Domestic CPDLC-DCL, so we recommend visiting the L3Harris website that is dedicated to this service:
The GoGo Aviator is a Satcom terminal that uses Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband connectivity. The GoGo Aviator is made by Cobham (Formally Thrane & Thrane). Air Sat One provides airtime and technical support for our customers using the GoGo Aviator.
How much does it cost to operate the GoGo Aviator?
The GoGo Aviator 200 and the GoGo Aviator 300/350 have different SwiftBroadband price structures. The Aviator 350 will also require a Datalink service plan in addition to SwiftBroadband internet service.
Our price guide for the GoGo Aviator systems can be downloaded here:
GoGo Aviator 200: Aviator 200 Price Guide
GoGo Aviator 300: Aviator 300 Price Guide
GoGo Aviator 350: Aviator 350 Price Guide & Datalink Price Guide
Air Sat One Frequently Asked Questions
To the left, you'll find a selection of some our most frequently asked questions. Feel free to browse our listing here before submitting a ticket or contacting us directly.
