Reliable two-way communications are a must for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, especially as aircraft operators increasingly rely on bidirectional voice, data, messaging and real-time aircraft tracking to do their jobs safely and efficiently.
Until now, serving all these needs on an aircraft has required the installation of a suite of avionics modules, plus the exclusive use of satellite airtime. Of course, adding avionics equipment can consume valuable payload capacity and increase operational complexity, while satellite air time is expensive.
This is why Flightcell International’s DZMx satellite and cellular communications system is such a welcome addition to the aviation market.
Although this unit is just 2.18 inches tall, 4.95 inches wide and 5.72 inches deep (55 millimeters by 125 millimeters by 120 millimeters) — and weighs just 1.4 pounds (650 grams) — the DZMx provides pilots and their ground controllers with all-in-one access to global voice (including Iridium Push-to-Talk), data, messaging and real-time aircraft tracking.
The big win: The DZMx can operate over commercial cellular networks as well as the Iridium satellite network. In instances where cellular connectivity is available, DZMx operators can use it to achieve high-speed communications at rock-bottom consumer prices.
“It’s extremely cost-effective for pilots to access cellular networks whenever they can, with no fear of it causing issues with their other on board systems,” said Michael Eddy, Flightcell International’s communications manager.
“Not only do you save money by communicating using cellular networks, but the broadband data rates are faster than those available on more expensive satellite networks. And when cellular ceases to be available, the crew can communicate via satellite just as easily as any other cutting-edge airborne transceiver.”
The DZMx also supports HD flight tracking. The ‘HD’ stands for ‘high definition’ and refers to the extra situational awareness the system provides through its frequent location measurements using GPS.
“Up till now, real-time tracking solutions track the aircraft’s position in minutes, while HD tracking does so in seconds,” said Eddy. “The result of this enhanced measurement is that the pilot, and the ground station receiving their location data, have a much more accurate idea of where they are at all times.”
Worth noting: The DZMx is designed to automatically switch its flight tracking broadcasts from satellite to cellular and back again, as connectivity conditions change along the flight path.
It is the DZMx’s cellular and satellite connectivity that makes this all-in-one transceiver a standout option for aircraft of all sizes and levels of sophistication. Designed and manufactured by Flightcell International in its Nelson, New Zealand, headquarters, the DZMx was the major reason for the company winning Aviation New Zealand’s prestigious 2016 Richard Pearse Trophy for innovation excellence. (Flightcell International’s global client list includes the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marine Corps, plus many other countries’ military and police forces.)
What makes the DZMx so powerful yet compact is the unit’s hardware architecture. Its microprocessor-controlled chassis is modular, meaning capabilities such as 4G/LTE/3G cellular, Iridium 9523 satellite, multiple sensor inputs, ARINC 429, and second Ethernet can be added by installing the appropriate cards. Customers can choose configuration options to suite their operational requirements — for example, two satellite cards to provide two satellite channels.
Meanwhile, the DZMx’s extruded alloy case is built to meet demanding military specification (MIL-SPEC) and DO160G environmental standards, plus the chassis can be installed anywhere convenient inside the aircraft thanks to the DZMx’s available remote head.
The flexibility of the DZMx’s card-based architecture and easy-to-update firmware makes it possible for Flightcell International to offer customized aerial solutions aimed at various sectors.
DZMx can be configured for firefighting, so that fire commanders can track their aircraft in real time to see how much water is uplifted, from where, and how much fire-retardant additive is used. This data lets them know specifically where and when the water is being dropped, and can also provide after-event data for reimbursing landowners for the exact amount of water taken from their properties. The company has developed similarly specific applications for agricultural crop-dusting, aerial law enforcement, military communications and regional airline operational management, among others.
“It took 10 years of research and development to create the DZMx, which was built on the success of our earlier DZM models,” said John Wyllie, president and CEO of Flightcell International. “In creating this satcom system, we spent a lot of time seeking customer feedback and using it to guide our design process. The current DZMx is very much the fruit of this collaboration between Flightcell International’s engineers and our global client base. The best part of that: the resulting satcom unit is not only highly capable, but it is small, easy to install and can save DZMx operators a lot of money by using cellular when it is available.”
+64 3 545 8651
If you would like to see your company featured in Insight, contact sales director Frank Sargeant at frank@mhmpub.com.
