International Communications Group, Inc. (ICG) today announced that it has successfully completed testing of its new ACARS-compliant (Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System), Iridium-based messaging solution and delivered initial production equipment.

"We have developed a solution that enables simple, plug-and-play replacement of aging Aero-C satellite communication equipment which is nearing obsolescence. Our equipment works with existing, already-installed avionics, thereby eliminating the need for additional third-party equipment and special translation devices or software," said Armin Jabs, president of ICG. "The ICG, ACARS-capable, Iridium package offers the benefits of global communications associated with Iridium and reliable, robust service associated with ACARS, all in a compact, lightweight, low-drag airborne satellite terminal."

ICG and ARINC are the first to successfully demonstrate and deliver ACARS-compliant, Iridium-based messaging with production equipment. Test transmissions included text messages, graphical weather, flight plan uplinks and other common messages.

"ARINC is excited to be working with ICG as the first service provider to seamlessly integrate Iridium-based ACARS communications in its service offering," said Dave Poltorak, vice-president of ARINC Business Aviation Solutions. ARINC now offers an integrated Iridium data link service via ARINC Direct, allowing business aviation customers to extend their access to ARINC Direct flight support services from virtually any location in the world. ARINC will extend its Iridium services for commercial aviation via its GLOBALink service later this year.

"Using the Iridium network of low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellites, the ICG solution offers business aircraft operators and air transport carriers a seamless, integrated and global, ACARS messaging service to supplement areas where VHF communications are unavailable," said Jabs. "We have launched commercial operation via the ARINC Direct Flight Operations Center in Annapolis, Md."

The ICG system complies with ARINC 741 standards for satellite-based interface to the data link management unit (DMU), as well as ARINC 618 and 620 specifications for ACARS messaging. ICG offers the ACARS-compliant, Iridium-based messaging in its ICS-100 single-channel and ICS-200 dual-channel voice/data Iridium terminals.