Story ID: 
SkyLink 7100 Qualified for Crewed Aircraft
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Blue Sky Network has qualified its SkyLink 7100 Iridium satcom to DO-160G, and the antenna has received FAA TSO C159d approval.
Word Count: 202
Blue Sky Network’s SkyLink 7100 Iridium satcom is now qualified to DO-160G environmental testing standards so it can be installed on crewed aircraft. SkyLink 7100 is an Iridium Certus 100 satcom that also features 4G/LTE communications for lower-cost connectivity on the ground at up to 600 Mbps. The Iridium Next satellite constellation offers worldwide coverage, and Certus 100 speeds are up to 88 Kbps.

To facilitate the SkyLink 7100 installation, its antenna has received FAA technical standard order C159d approval. The DO-160G qualification involved passing “rigorous environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne avionics equipment, including electrical, mechanical, and weather-related tests,” according to Blue Sky Network. 

“SkyLink is now the first certified Iridium Certus 100 airborne solution offering mid-band satellite data and high-definition voice,” said Jason Hicks, Blue Sky Network v-p of business development.

Originally targeting the uncrewed aircraft segment, SkyLink 7100 is now available for airplanes and rotorcraft markets, according to Blue Sky Network, and “unlocks new capabilities for infrastructure monitoring, cargo delivery, aerial firefighting, EMS, airline information, government, and crew/passenger communications.” The company said that while supplemental type certificate (STC) approval is not required for certain installations, "we are targeting certain aircraft types for STC."