Provides Polar First Team With SatComm System
They're gonna try
again... and they'll have some help. Aero-News has learned
satellite communications provider Blue Sky Network will support the
Polar First helicopter team in their second attempt to set a record
for circumnavigating the globe by way of the North and South Poles.
On December 5, Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodill's Bell 407
helicopter will commence their journey maintaining constant
communication with on-ground support during the 36,000-mile,
175-day trip.
Polar First originally attempted this goal in 2003, but the
expedition was abruptly and dramatically cut short when the
aircraft crashed on an ice sheet in Antarctica. The Blue Sky
Network system and web-based SkyRouter, alerted those on the ground
that the helicopter had gone down, and they were able to direct
emergency crews to their exact location of the Polar First aircraft
and got them help immediately. The crew believes this solution
saved their lives.
"Considering the inherent danger of a flight like this, and our
own personal experience, it is a relief to know we can rely on the
Blue Sky Network flight tracker to keep us in contact with our crew
on the ground at all times, no matter where we are," said Jennifer
Murray. "Blue Sky Network's equipment will be a vital means for
accomplishing this feat."
The Blue Sky Network equipment on board the helicopter includes
an Iridium-based D1000 mobile tracking and telemetry terminal with
embedded GPS. Separate voice equipment allows the pilots to keep in
touch with technical support and ground personnel. Telemetry data
from the aircraft regarding critical operating parameters is also
made available to mission control by the Blue Sky Network solution.
Ground staff will have instant access to the exact position of the
helicopter, an essential factor in keeping the flight team
safe.
Blue Sky Network's
communications solution is based on the Iridium Satellite network.
Only Iridium-based communications provide pole-to-pole, global
voice and data communications coverage.
In addition, anyone with an Internet connection will be able to
follow Murray and Bodill's progress via Polar First's website,
which will provide near real-time GPS tracking of the flight and
Google Earth integration. Featuring Blue Sky Network's SkyRouter,
an interactive web portal, the website will contain updates and
details of the record attempt including speed, altitude and elapsed
flight time.
Using its interactive Web portal, SkyRouter, with detailed
mapping and integration with Google Earth, Blue Sky Network links
enterprises to personnel and assets anywhere on earth over the
Iridium satellite network. The FAA-certified data and voice
products enable users to customize features including safety and
event reporting.
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