Classic Aero
The trusted choice for cockpit safety services for over 30 years, used by more than 90% of the world’s transoceanic aircraft for communication and surveillance today.
The gold standard for safety-critical services
As the leader in flight deck communications, we own and operate the world’s most advanced global L-band satellite network. Trusted by more than 200 airlines, our aviation safety services are on board more than 12,000 aircraft and deliver 50 million position reports annually, keeping aircraft safely separated and in touch with airline operation teams and Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Introduced in the early 1990s, Classic Aero made a powerful impact as the first satellite communications and surveillance service for aircraft traveling across the oceans and remote regions of the world. These key capabilities – only possible with the power of satellites – enabled regulators to reduce the separation requirements between aircraft in the sky, thereby expanding oceanic airspace capacity by over 300%.
Powered by a seamless and evolving network
Classic Aero delivers full global coverage over all major flight routes, supported by a seamless network with embedded cybersecurity.
This is the reason that most of the world’s leading airlines have used Classic Aero services for the past three decades – not to mention small, medium, and large business jet owners, general aviation customers, and government agencies.
We continue to invest in our global L-band satellite network to support Classic Aero for many years to come. Our technology roadmap will see three L-band I-8 satellites in orbit from 2026, in addition to the recently launched and fully operational I-6 F1, the most powerful L-band payload ever launched.
Not only have we led aviation safety satcom for the past 30+ years, we helped to invent it.
We started laying the foundation for Classic Aero all the way back in the late 1980s, working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to develop the Future Air Navigation System (FANS).
SwiftBroadband-Safety - A new industry gold standard
SB-S is a comprehensive upgrade of our Classic Aero service, which is currently the market-leading voice and data safety service.
Classic Aero has been the gold standard for aviation safety communications for the past three decades. However, technology has evolved, and today, SB-S promises to once again revolutionize the safe flight of airplanes through the skies.
SB-S has global coverage, abundant capacity, full redundancy, end-to-end PKI encrypted cybersecurity, and availability worldwide, meeting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) GOLD communications and surveillance performance requirements.
Takeaways
1
12,000 aircraft
Over 12,000 aircraft use Classic Aero every day, including commercial airliners, business jets, and military/government transporters.
2
50 million
We are trusted to process more than 50 million position reports on Classic Aero every year.
3
CPDLC
Classic Aero provides Controller Pilot Data Link Communications; this text-based format reduces air traffic controller and pilot workload & errors.
4
ADS-C
Classic Aero supports Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Contract, an advanced surveillance protocol enabling reduced separation standards in oceanic regions.
Get connected
Classic Aero is distributed by our partners, SITA and Collins Aerospace (ARINC). For support and billing inquiries, please contact your data link provider. For general questions about the service, you can use the contact form provided.
