LiveTV and Greenwich AeroGroup Bring Iridium OpenPort to Business Aviation

LiveTV, a wholly owned subsidiary of JetBlue Airways Corporation, and Greenwich AeroGroup Inc. have entered into a distribution agreement where Greenwich Aerogroup, Inc. and its affiliates will sell, support and install the Iridium OpenPort-AeroSM broadband aviation communications platform. Iridium OpenPort-Aero is the only aviation broadband solution that works everywhere in the world, including remote, oceanic and polar regions, for passengers requiring smartphone, tablet or laptop connectivity. 

This arrangement extends Iridium OpenPort-Aero further into the business, government and military markets. The Iridium OpenPort service enables high-speed data and voice communications through Iridium Communications Inc., operator of the world’s furthest-reaching satellite network. LiveTV innovated a lightweight aviation antenna design from the Iridium OpenPort^® broadband maritime system to enable highly-reliable, low-latency, high-speed, global aircraft connectivity.

“Iridium OpenPort-Aero underscores LiveTV’s commitment to providing the best value satellite services to our customers, especially in the general aviation marketplace, and also enables connectivity where it doesn’t exist,” says Glenn Latta, president of LiveTV. “Iridium OpenPort-Aero offers the right blend of value and capability to customers who need to stay connected via their smart phones, tablets or laptops while in-flight.”

Iridium OpenPort-Aero is aimed at operators looking to upgrade aircraft voice and data connectivity systems without geographical limits and at the most affordable ownership cost available to the market. LiveTV designed the antenna footprint and profile for maximum efficiency and reliability, fitting most business jets and turboprop aircraft. It is also ideal for the rotorcraft market as the antenna can access Iridium satellites on the horizon, avoiding potential rotor interference.

Iridium OpenPort-Aero is designed to also operate on Iridium’s next generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT, which is planned to begin launching in 2015. It also is planned to support GATM/FANS 1A communications requirements well ahead of related navigational requirements going into effect.

“We are excited to be able to team with LiveTV on delivering Iridium OpenPort-Aero to the market,” says Daniel Lafrance, vice president of sales and marketing for Greenwich AeroGroup. “This relationship fits well with our goal of expanding the innovative solutions we bring forth to our customers.”

Greenwich AeroGroup will provide initial certification, sales and installation support for the Iridium OpenPort-Aero product line at its Atlantic Aero location in Greensboro, NC, its Western Aircraft location in Boise, ID or Summit Aviation in Middletown, DE. Additional qualified MRO service providers in strategic areas will be added to the list of sales, installation, and support facilities after completion of the first Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). The initial installations are scheduled to begin in third quarter of 2012.