The global acceptance of email and the difficulty of reaching people via telephone has sparked a revival in the Aero-C system for ground to air communications, says Hans Karlsen of Airborne Data Services (ADS).

Manufactured by Thrane & Thrane and distributed and supported by ADS, the system comprises the Aeronautical Capsat hardware, which interfaces with Inmarsat's Aero-C satellite network service.

In addition to its proven position reporting facility, Aero-C can be used from the aircraft and in remote regions for weather and flight plan updates, maintenance and fuel requests as well as business and personal communications.

The main features of the system are the ability to send and receive messages between the aircraft and any e-mail, fax, telex or PC. This global coverage also comes at a much lower price than comparable phone based systems.

Although the system was first introduced several years ago, Karlsen told EBAN that he has seen a real revival in interest recently. "I think it has been the advent of email and the internet, that has helped. The big advantage that this system can offer both the crew and the ops department is that it is 100% reliable.

"We know it works in all aircraft and with a range covering areas between 85 degrees north and south we fairly claim to have global reach."

An added key feature of the system is a fully automated position reporting facility, so that the ground station can accurately anticipate the arrival of their flight. The unit has its own built-in GPS system, so is completely independent of other on-board avionics and is particularly useful for vip traffic and also when missions need to be tracked through potentially hostile territory.

The manufacturers have recently updated the PC Capsat manager fleet tracking software programme that comes as part of the system and is installed at the operations centre. Operators can either use the mapping software supplied or their own maps.

ADS is exclusively offering EBAN readers the opportunity to have the Capsat Manager software free of charge when you buy an Aero-C system. This is worth around £1,050. You need to have made your enquiry about the Aero-C system by August 31. Other conditions apply in respect of installation date. Contact ADS for more information on +44 (0) 1252 878825, email info@ads-gb.com - or see their ad in this issue of EBAN.