Survival Flight, LLC’s fleet of Bell Helicopter 407s is currently being quipped with Outerlink’s next-generation IRIS system, the air medical service provider said. IRIS gives users the ability to record large amounts of data, process it onboard through a computer and filter it directly to communication or control centers every 10 seconds.
AeroBrigham recently delivered a customized Bell Helicopter 407 to Survival Flight. Photo: AeroBrigham.
This system makeover eradicates the use of a ground-based very high frequency network, reducing costs and adding capability. Ground-based networks require building and maintaining. Survival flight said it found the traditional satellite phone’s one-to-one communication both limiting and expensive.
According to Metro Aviation, the system is a result of its acquisition of North Flight Data Systems and Outerlink Global Solutions. The satellite-based solution provides voice, video and flight data recording with a limitless broadband push-to-talk voice over Internet protocol radio and high frequency tracking system. Bandwidth is provided through a partnership with ViaSat.