Will Monitor Flight Across 18,000 Miles, 18 Countries

Satellite tracking and two-way network provider Blue Sky Network announced Wednesday it will provide online tracking for the longest known international flight of a new Eclipse 500 jet. Blue Sky Network’s portable in-flight D2000A will enable remote flight monitoring visibility via near real-time location updates, sent throughout the journey to Blue Sky Network’s online asset management portal, SkyRouter.

The Eclipse 500 is installed with the D2000A, utilizing an Iridium Satellite transceiver. The on-board unit works in conjunction with the company's SkyRouter asset management portal to enable two-way text messaging between pilot and ground crew, position reporting and telemetry data reporting. For all of the scheduled stops across 18 countries, the D2000A and SkyRouter pair will automatically deliver take-off, landing and flight progress details to the Blue Sky Network website.

Scheduled to depart Wednesday from Eclipse headquarters in Albuquerque, NM, Australian pilot Michael Cooke will ferry and operate the Eclipse 500 for the new owners, Wanless Wastecorp located in Brisbane, Australia.

The trip marks the third time Blue Sky Network will accompany a record-setting international flight. In 2006 and 2007, Blue Sky Network provided online tracking updates for the record-breaking, around-the-globe flights of Steve Fossett’s GlobalFlyer, and Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodil of Polar First.

"Blue Sky Network’s voice and tracking solutions make flying the Eclipse 500 VLJ across the globe much safer," said Michael Cooke, pilot of the Eclipse 500. "Blue Sky Network’s equipment gives me constant access to ground resources, while on-ground teams are using SkyRouter for automatic flight following and text messaging.” Once the aircraft arrives in Australia, it will continue using the equipment on flights in Australia and to Fiji and New Zealand.

"Deploying our products on a VLJ like the Eclipse 500 further demonstrates that our light and very effective solutions are a perfect fit for the VLJ market," said Jon Gilbert, president and CEO of Blue Sky Network. "We are excited to be a part of this journey with Wanless Wastecorp and Michael, and look forward to following every step of the journey together."

Progress of Michael Cooke’s Eclipse 500 flight can be publicly accessed through Blue Sky Network’s website, at the first FMI link below.

FMI: www.blueskynetwork.com, www.eclipseaviation.com