Newport News, Va. – (July 8th, 2015) – ICG (International Communications Group, Inc.) is pleased to announce successful completion of the installation of an ICG NxtLink Series ICS-220A Flight Deck satellite system, operating over the Iridium® satellite network, on an Airbus A330-200 operated by Thomas Cook Airlines. The aircraft, one of 30 currently operated by Thomas Cook Airlines, also achieved FANS-1/A over Iridium (FOI) compliance and is now eligible to fly North Atlantic tracks restricted to FANS-1/A operational aircraft only.
“This is the first installation on an Airbus A330 to be granted a Supplemental Type Certificate by EASA that includes FANS-1/A operations over Iridium,” said Armin Jabs, ICG’s Founder. “It also provides the Thomas Cook Airlines’ flight crew with reliable, global voice and data link services via the Iridium® satellite network. For Extended Operations (ETOPS) and polar route operations requiring long-range communications, Iridium is the least expensive and only truly global system available to the industry today. For operators looking to change from an older Inmarsat AeroH/I system, or those wishing to install satcom for the first time, it is the only logical choice. It is the only system that offers coverage for oceanic, polar and remote airspace, permitting 100% flight following, and allowing aircraft to receive preferred routing and reduced separation minimums, all of which translate into cost and time savings,” he added.
“We’re looking to grow our long-haul business and have some great new premium cabin offerings for customers,” said Captain Hans-Henrik Grentzmann, Thomas Cook Airlines’ Flight deck IT Manager and EFB Administrator. “In the UK we’re also the largest long haul operator out of Manchester, which is proving massively popular. So when you add these technical improvements to the aircraft, which have a direct customer impact, it helps solidify our position in the market place. Since we installed this Satcom system on our primary A330 aircraft and began regular operations, the pilots are loving it. It is stable and virtually maintenance free. It has provided us with some major fuel savings on legs between Scandinavia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The revenue gain is significant and we expect our load factors to increase due to fuel savings. We’re also able to make high level Nat-Track crossings, something that was previously a problem for our non-FANS-1/A equipped aircraft. I can’t say enough about the enhanced connectivity,” he added.
The NxtLink ICS-220A provides communications for both flight deck data link requirements, including Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract (ADS-C) messaging, and flight deck voice communications via conventional aircraft audio systems and call control, utilizing ARINC 739a compliant Multifunction Control Display Units (MCDUs). ICG’s NxtLink ICS-220A is a three-transceiver device, offering a separate transceiver for ancillary services such as cabin crew voice, EFB connectivity, health and status monitoring, etc or for restoration and redundancy services in the event of data link or Long-Range Communications (LRC) voice channel fail-ures. Installations can be accomplished via conventional STC, OEM Service Bulletins (SB) and in the near future, by selection of a forward fit option on B737NG and MAX airframe models as well as the Embraer E2 Jets.
About ICG (www.icg.aero)
ICG (International Communications Group, Inc.) of Newport News, Va. is a recognized leader within the aerospace industry, in the development and manufacture of aeronautical communications systems and data routing solutions for the Air Transport and General Aviation industries. ICG’s products provide satellite-based global voice and data telecommunications services for both cabin re-
quirements and flight deck operations. Implementation of ICG avionics provides a comprehensive communications solution that can be customized for any size airframe or application. Products include: CTU systems, corded and cordless hand-sets, single- and multi-channel Iridium® systems and data management devices. Markets for ICG products are the aerospace, military and maritime industries. ICG, a major Iridium® value-added manufacturer (VAM) and value-added re-seller (VAR), has developed a wide range of solutions using the Iridium® satellite network and products for mobile satellite communications applications. ICG is an approved FAA manufacturing facility and operates an FAA approved repair station.
