FX.co ★ Iridium NEXT satellites will change the world of air travel

The American company Aireon is going to take out new devices in outer space in the near future. It is planned that with their help it will be possible to observe the entire surface of the Earth, and also to track the flights along their full path.

The plane crash in Indonesia pushed the US company on this step. On board of the liner, there were 54 people. It is noted that 30 minutes after the start, the communication between the dispatcher and the pilots of the aircraft was lost - the aircraft ship disappeared from the screens of dispatching devices. It is known that today an aircraft can not be traced in the non-stop mode in the airspace.

Iridium NEXT's low-latency, 66 cross-linked Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites make it uniquely suited to meet the technical demands of global air traffic surveillance and tracking. The LEO satellites will orbit approximately 485 miles above the earth and each satellite will be linked to four others, creating a dynamic network to ensure continuous availability, everywhere on the planet.

Director of Aireon Don Thoma gave an illustrative example, which proves that the use of satellites in this mode is of high practical value. "The MN370 was not within the reach of the Malaysian military radar and the plane was never found." NEXT satellites will allow continuous video surveillance," the director said.

In three years, the company plans to deploy the maximum performance of the NEXT system. It is noted that this will allow the aircraft to fly closer to each other. Consequently, airlines will be able to improve efficiency and fuel economy. Passengers will also benefit: a variety of flights to different points of the world will increase.