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.