COVINGTON, La., Sept. 28, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE:GSAT) and its partner, ADS-B Technologies, announced the completion of the NASA Langley Research Center research flight with the Cirrus SR22 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Surrogate designed to test the operation of the ADS-B Link Augmentation System (ALAS). Initial results indicated continuous communication between the aircraft and Globalstar’s satellite system with only brief interruptions during extreme maneuvering, which reconnected quickly.
The Cirrus SR22 test flights focused on testing the ability of ALAS to continuously pass two-way data between the aircraft and NASA’s ground control station using remote control capabilities. The first of two 40 minute flights included extreme maneuvering with two 60 degree bank angle turns specifically designed to test the ALAS connection. The second flight produced similar results during a series of maneuvers involving heading and altitude changes.
“NASA not only demonstrated that ALAS could perform well in maneuvers, but also confirmed that complex data such as flight control commands and aircraft state and status could be passed to a controller over the same robust Globalstar link in real time,” said Skip Nelson, President of ADS-B Technologies. “This tells us that ALAS could provide a single, secure and potentially encrypted portal between the aircraft and the ground.”
ALAS is a simple, low cost peripheral that is designed to pass real-time one second ADS-B reports over the horizon to ADS-B ground stations from aircraft operating in remote and oceanic areas. The system is compatible with virtually any ADS-B avionics installation. It also does not interfere with the aircraft's normal ADS-B transmissions to terrestrial ground stations.
“We are pleased to see ALAS perform well under the scrutiny of NASA level testing,” commented Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO of Globalstar. “ALAS is a reliable, economical flight tracking solution and we look forward to our continued work with aviation interests such as NASA to further leverage this innovative technology.”
For more information about ALAS, please visit Globalstar.com/ADS-B.
About Globalstar, Inc.
Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services, leveraging the world’s newest satellite network. Customers around the world in industries like government, emergency management, marine, logging, oil & gas and outdoor recreation rely on Globalstar to conduct business smarter and faster, maintain peace of mind and access emergency personnel. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring and SCADA applications. The Company's products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, the innovative Sat-Fi satellite hotspot, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems, tracking devices and flexible service packages. For more information, visit www.globalstar.com.
Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, visit www.globalstar.com.
About ADS-B Technologies, LLC
Founded in 2004, this privately held Anchorage, Alaska based company specializes in just one thing – Commercial Engineering and Consulting services related to the development and deployment of ADS-B and its companion technologies. ADS-B Technologies was the first company to successfully demonstrate 978MHz ADS-B on both the Asian and African continents and today, continues to work worldwide assisting its clients in the employment of this new technology. For more information visit www.ads-b.com