Story ID: 484
Honeywell Improves Connectivity for Black Hawks
By: Alexa Rexroth
Caption: The Aspire 200 satellite communications system speeds up real-time communications for Black Hawk operators.
Word Count: 143
Honeywell is upgrading its FAA STC approval for the Aspire 200 satellite communications system to allow commercial UH-60 and S-70 Black Hawk helicopters operators to have a high-gain antenna. A Wi-Fi router coupled with a Scotty communication platform capable of high-speed data compilation and compression is especially useful to operators who need to communicate via real-time video with their operations centers. Aspire 200 is the smallest Inmarsat SwiftBroadband system available and the only solution that mitigates the impact of rotor blades in the satellite signal.

The Aspire 200 system is additionally available for the Airbus AS350, Bell 429, and Leonardo AW139 helicopters. Certification is in progress for the Sikorsky S-92 and S-76, along with the Airbus AS332 and AS365. Aspire 200 is on display this week at Honeywell's booth (C1329) and the hardware is installed on a Black Hawk at Arista Aviation (Booth C6844).