Newport News, VA– (October 9, 2014) – ICG (International Communications Group, Inc.) of Newport News, Virginia has been a key player in business aviation voice and data link communications for much of its 20-year history while keeping a relatively low profile as technology innovators. Today, ICG has moved to the forefront of the industry as its NxtLink ICS-120A and ICS-220A Satcom transceivers provide the basis for an impressive surge of retrofit installations of Air Traffic Services FANS-1/A CPDLC data link systems utilizing Iridium. Among the many dealers and OEMs adopting ICG’s FANS capable products, Chicago Jet Group recently received a Supplemental Type Certificate for a FANS over Iridium (FOI) system on a Dassault Falcon 900 and has similar efforts in progress on Gulfstream G100/Astra and G-IV aircraft which are expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of this year.
"Our NxtLink ICS-120A and ICS-220A systems are versatile, easy to in-stall, draw much less power and are significantly lighter in weight than previous Satcom systems. Customers get more ‘bang for the buck,’ and better coverage for a fraction of the cost of an Inmarsat-based system," explained Darren Emery, ICG’s Vice President of Product Realization & Introduction.
ICG's leading role in dealing with Future Air Navigation System technology and the Iridium satellite network hasn't been limited to the business aviation segment of the industry. In fact, the company's involvement in FANS development began in the commercial air transport sector and is continuing to grow with the adoption of the ICG Iridium FANS solution into many global airline fleets through STC, OEM Service Bulletins and soon to be available production line fit options.
Early on, ICG based its FANS concept on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) technical work for Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) and Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) requirements. The company took a leading role in industry efforts through organizations such as RTCA. “In 2009, ICG, with our airline partners were early adopters and have participated throughout the FAA’s working group trials and data analysis resulting in the endorsement of data link over Iridium. When considering FANS and the future of ATS voice it is important to look to the industry leaders,” said Emery.
Since the Federal Aviation Administration’s endorsement of the use of Iridium to meet FANS communication requirements for Air Traffic Control, ICG has taken the lead in providing aircraft with global navigational systems that offer coverage for oceanic, polar and remote airspace allowing them to receive preferred routing and reduced minimum separations, all of which translate into cost and time sav-ings.
“Our experience with the development of products for voice and data link over Iridium within the aviation industry over the past 10 years is second to none,” Emery added. “With an installed base of over 750 NxtLink Satcom trans-ceivers for voice and data connectivity across all industry sectors and our roadmap to incorporate new and emerging technologies, the concept of a fully connected aircraft solution isn’t just a goal, anymore; it’s a reality for a growing universe of customers.”
“At ICG we earned our reputation as proven industry experts with our committed participation from the very beginning," noted Emery. “We were one of the first companies to take data link to the next level, to look at how the air traffic system would evolve and the navigation and communication requirements would expand. ICG is continuing its pioneering of Safety Services with our involvement
with the FAA’s ATS (Air Traffic Systems) Satcom voice trials which will significantly improve long range communications options to both Business and Com-mercial Aviation services. ICG is committed to staying at the forefront of this criti-cal effort to improve in-flight efficiency and safety,” Emery concluded.
ICG will be exhibiting at NBAA booth 1617 with a demonstration of FANS over Iridium and Nose to Tail connectivity solutions at the booth.
About ICG (www.icg.aero)
International Communications Group, Inc. (ICG) of Newport News, Va. is a rec-ognized leader within the aerospace industry, in the development and manufac-ture of aeronautical communications systems and solutions for the General Avia-tion and Air Transport industries. ICG’s products provide satellite-based global voice and data telecommunications services for both cabin requirements and flight deck operations. Implementation of ICG avionics provides a comprehensive communications solution that can be customized for any size airframe or applica-tion. Products include: CTU systems, corded and cordless handsets, single- and multi-channel Iridium® systems and data management devices. Markets for ICG products are the aerospace, military and maritime industries. ICG, a major Iridi-um® value-added manufacturer (VAM) and value-added reseller (VAR), has de-veloped a wide range of Iridium®-based solutions and products for mobile satel-lite communications applications. ICG is an approved FAA manufacturing facility and operates an FAA approved repair station.
