Satcom-Capable Phones Now Available To Owners

Representatives with Premier Aircraft Sales tell ANN the company recently became a distributor for Satcom Direct, Inc's Iridium-based handheld global satellite telephones.

"A high-performance aircraft such as a Mooney Acclaim or a Diamond DA40 XL can be excellent business tool and provide tremendous flexibility in serving the needs of your customers but often communication while en route is difficult," stated Earle Boyter, Vice President of Premier Aircraft Sales.

"Satcom Direct gives us the ability to offer to our customers a method of air-to-ground communication that is thousands of dollars less than an air phone and provides all the benefits of global availability."

"Because the Iridium 9505A handheld satellite phone is not installed in the aircraft, it is perfect for general aviation," added Tracy McLendon, Marketing Coordinator, Satcom Direct. "Pilots can take the phone with them wherever they go."

McLendon adds the only components actually installed in the aircraft are the top-mounted GPS L1 antenna, and the Aero Cable kit.

"We have sold and delivered a number of Mooney and Diamond airplanes which travel throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America. The Iridium satellite phone will be the perfect complement to owners who frequently fly in areas with no or limited cell phone coverage," Boyter added.

Along with the ability to call to and from anywhere while on the ground, an optional adapter allows pilots to plug the Iridium phone into the aircraft's audio system, and use their headset to make phone calls to FSS, FBOs or to a home or office. In the event of a comm failure, they can also use the battery-powered Iridium satellite phone to contact ATC or control towers to obtain clearances.

A unique feature of the Iridum system is the optional Global One Number, which provides one 10-digit telephone number that is available anywhere in the world.

FMI: www.premieraircraftsales.com, www.satcomdirect.com