International Communications Group (ICG) has  announced that it is partnering with Cobham Antenna Systems, Lewisville, Texas (formerly Chelton SATCOM) to offer a highly efficient aircraft system for global voice and Swift Broadband (SBB) data. Dubbed Sora (Japanese for “sky”), the package combines cutting edge technology, capacity and versatility to provide advanced voice and data communications through the Inmarsat network and the Iridium satellite constellation.

Sora integrates an ICG NxtLink 220A communication system and its NxtMail Server with a Cobham SBB Satcom terminal.  “This partnership with Cobham integrates worldwide Iridium voice with global Inmarsat SBB data.  Sora enables Wi-Fi devices such as Blackberries, iPhones and personal computers to operate on the high speed SBB channel, and in-plane handsets provide the cabin and crew with worldwide voice.  Additionally, the flight crew has a dedicated cockpit data-link for AFIS / ACARS messaging, and a priority voice channel for air traffic management and flight operations personnel.  Sora satisfies the crew with enhanced cockpit communications, and provides cabin occupants with an SBB connection by bringing  together two unique satellite networks into one ideal solution,” said Jeff Saucedo, ICG’s vice president of OEM Sales.  “Sora is a complete solution that is extremely competitive in size, weight  and price, and addresses the ‘data gap’ which previously existed.  Sora also makes it possible for Cobham to offer worldwide voice and cockpit data-link connections to its customers,” he added. 

ICG’s NxtLink 220A is a three-transceiver device which combines dual channels of global voice and dedicated data-link service via a Short Burst Data (SBD) channel. It offers call priority  and call preemption features to permit the flight crew to always have access to a channel. In September, ICG was granted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Parts Manufacturing Authority (PMA) on the NxtMail Server.  It’s the latest in a long list of PMA products from ICG that set the standard in their categories for size, weight, and price. “The products included in the Sora package were designed to a ‘higher standard’ allowing cross-platform utilization and installation. Our business aviation customers can have the confidence that the components they’re putting on their airplanes meet the industry’s highest standards for quality, reliability and performance,” Saucedo noted.