Avionics Update: Icarus introduces Sky Connect satphone

Icarus Instruments, the company that gave aviation its first sub-$10,000 satcom system, has unveiled the Sky Connect satphone, a 2.4-gHz cordless handset for use in business aircraft cabins and cockpits. According to Steve Silverman, Icarus president, Sky Connect was developed to provide a low-cost satcom option to the cabin-class market. Like the company’s Sat Talk II phone, Sky Connect uses the Iridium network to route calls to and from anywhere across the globe. The $19,995 telephone system can operate as far as 300 ft from the cabin, allowing passengers and pilots to use the telephones on the ramp outside the aircraft. Icarus partner Global Link is selling Sky Connect and the Iridium service packages. As many as four of the cordless handsets can be installed in the airplane. Calls cost $1.50 per minute.