IRIS for greener skies

Iris aims to make aviation safer, greener and more efficient by developing a new satellite-based air–ground communication system for Air Traffic Management (ATM), in partnership with Inmarsat.

Currently, pilots communicate with air traffic control mostly by voice and the communication channels are becoming more and more congested.

Introducing digitalisation by fitting aircraft with Iris satellite data communication technology enables air traffic controllers to manage the skies more efficiently using a high bandwidth satellite datalink between the aircraft and the ground. Flight plans can be continually updated during the flight to maintain an optimal trajectory towards the destination. This allows air traffic controllers to schedule landings well in advance, maximising airspace and airport capacity, while minimising the fuel burned and its environmental impact.