News Release

L-3's Iridium SATCOM certified on Airbus A320 family of aircraft

L-3 Aviation Recorders (L-3 AR) announced today that it has received Airbus' formal notification of certification for the L-3 AFIRS 228S (Automated Flight Information and Reporting System) for the Airbus A320 family of aircraft. The AFIRS 228S is an Iridium-based SATCOM system providing satellite cockpit voice and aircraft data transmission capability to airline operators worldwide.

“We're proud to be part of this important AFIRS SATCOM certification by Airbus,” said Ed Senen, president of L-3 Aviation Recorders. “Our AFIRS solution provides a strategic expansion to the core flight data recording product line that L-3 has supplied to its customers as the industry's leading aviation recorder manufacturer for more than 30 years.”

L-3's AFIRS 228S Iridium SATCOM system provides an aircraft crew with voice and data services for Air Traffic Control (ATC), Aeronautical Operational Control (AOC) and Air-to-Air Communication (AAC) using Iridium's global satellite network. The system also provides ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) over Iridium messaging capability.

Working together with its partner, FLYHT Aerospace Solutions, L-3 Aviation Recorders signed the original agreement with Airbus for the AFIRS program in 2012 to develop and certify L-3's AFIRS Iridium SATCOM capability on the Airbus A320 family of aircraft.