The Spider s6 made its debut at Heli-Expo 2015. Spidertracks Photo
It may not look much different, but the Spider s6 real-time tracking unit is anything but the same old Spider.
Spidertracks debuted the all-new Spider s6 at Heli-Expo 2015, where chief operating officer Dave Blackwell told Vertical that the unit delivers real-time GPS tracking capabilities and pole-to-pole coverage through Iridium satellite capability. In a matter of seconds, flight information is broadcast through the Spider s6 unit to the Iridium satellite network, and from there back to Spidertracks’ servers, where clients can access it on the company’s website. The s6 also streams GPS data to a pilot’s electronic flight bag via Bluetooth, enabling accurate position reporting for flight planning purposes.
“People may wonder what is different because the outside of the unit looks the same as its predecessor,” said Blackwell. “But the s6 unit has been internally re-engineered. It enables real-time situational awareness anywhere in the world.”
The Spider s6 has been designed to promote operational transparency, and delivers extensive data logging capabilities. “We understand that our customers want to know where their aircraft are, and how they’re being flown,” added Blackwell. “So the s6 has a data logging capability that is useful for many applications, including flight schools, search-and-rescue, firefighting and tour operators—anything where a post-flight review is very useful. The simplicity of the unit sets it apart. It was developed based on customer feedback and provides an affordable out-of-the-box solution to flight tracking.”
Despite its new features and extended capabilities, the Spider s6 will cost less than its predecessor, the s5. Blackwell said it will be priced at US$1,195 and units will begin shipping in April.
Spidertracks plans to build upon the functionality of the Spider s6, incorporating more “value-added” features in the near future.
