Aero H and H+, also sometimes referred to as Classic Aero, are typically used by business and commercial aviation aircraft for FANS 1/A (Datalink) and Safety Voice (SATVOICE) as one of the two required LRCS along with HF radio.
Aero H is a multi-channel voice service (for SATVOICE) and provides 10.5 kbps fax and data (for Datalink & FANS 1/A), delivered through a high-gain antenna within the global beams of Inmarsat's I-3 satellites. Aero H is ICAO approved for safety services. Inmarsat is planning on discontinuing Aero H service in December 2023. However, Aero H+ will continue to be supported.
Aero H+ has all the features of Aero H with multi-channel voice service & 10.5 kbps fax and data, delivered through a high-gain antenna within the regional spot beams of the Inmarsat-3 satellites & the full footprint of the Inmarsat-4 satellites. Aero H+ is ICAO approved for safety services and is used for voice communications (SATVOICE) and Datalink (FANS 1/A) between the aircraft FMS and ATC. Datalink through Aero H+ is used for a number of different services detailed on our Flight Deck Connect™ page.
Aero H+ can be used for standard (non-safety) telephone calls to and from the aircraft, and it can be used for Safety Voice Services (SATVOICE) for a telephony connection between the flight crew and ATC as an LRCS (Long Range Communications System). Airtime plans for non-safety and safety services are different; Air Sat One will handle the special activation procedures for either connection. When the Aero H+ is used for safety voice services, it is usually configured on our end to only allow calls between the flight crew and ATC; however, it is possible to enable outside calls for an additional fee, but it is more economical to use SwiftBroadband voice for outside calls - most satcom systems with Aero H+ also have SwiftBroadband.
Air Sat One's Flight Deck Connect™ provides World-Wide Datalink for AFIS/ACARS, FANS 1/A and VDL Mode 2 through the Iridium, Inmarsat and VHF networks.
