Aireon
Op-Ed | The space industry’s game-changing role in next-generation aircraft tracking and surveillance
“Traditional” ADS-B transmits to ground-based communication systems and lacks coverage over oceans and remote areas. This is where the space industry is stepping up to play a game-changing role in the next generation of aviation.
Aireon paying back Iridium with help from $200M loan
Aireon said it signed the credit facility Dec. 21, and that it used the new funds to pay satellite operator Iridium $35 million before the end of 2018 for hosting its sensor payloads on the Iridium Next constellation.
Iridium expects Aireon to pay off $200M debt by end of 2021
Aireon, the aircraft-tracking venture Iridium Communications founded to help finance construction of the now nearly completed Iridium Next Constellation, is close to securing a new credit line that should allow the firm to catch up on $200 million in overdue payload hosting fees.
Aireon partner invests $69 million in space-based aircraft tracking system
Aireon raised $69 million from a British partner, enabling the aircraft-tracking startup to begin making hosting payments to Iridium Communications.
Iridium raising new debt to cover late Aireon payments
A company that fleet operator Iridium formed to help finance its second-generation satellite constellation is taking longer than expected to pay Iridium back for carrying its sensor network to orbit.
Iridium starting to deorbit legacy satellites as Next constellation comes online
Now that its first batch of next generation satellites is in orbit and operational, mobile satellite services provider Iridium is preparing deorbit procedures for its legacy fleet of low-Earth orbit satellites that launched in the late 1990s.
Spire to enter aviation tracking market
Spire Global, a company developing a constellation of cubesats to provide weather and maritime tracking data, said Dec. 5 it plans to enter the aircraft tracking market by adding additional sensors to its future satellites.
Iridium negotiates payment delays with lenders, contractor to mitigate Aireon shortfall
Mobile satellite services provider Iridium Communications on July 28 said it had opened negotiations with its lenders and its satellite manufacturer to reduce or delay Iridium payments in the event Iridium’s Aireon air traffic surveillance affiliate cannot make its scheduled payment to Iridium.
ITU Aircraft Satellite-tracking Agreement Bolsters Aireon Business Case
Global governments’ approval of radio spectrum permitting aircraft to provide additional tracking data to satellites reduces the chance of another lost jet like Malaysian Airlines MH370 and immediately improves the business case for Iridium Satellites and its Aireon LLC aircraft-tracking affiliate.
