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FlightAware and Aireon’s GlobalBeacon Product To Test Real-Time Global Aircraft Tracking

Beginning in November 2018, Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, McNett & Henry (WEMMH) client FlightAware, along with Aireon, will utilize their revolutionary GlobalBeacon product to test real-time tracking of global aircraft. Airlines and aircraft operators will be expected to track their fleet globally at a frequency of one position every 15 minutes during normal operations. By 2021, they will be required to automatically receive positions once every minute for aircraft in distress.

GlobalBeacon provides the most simple and cost-effective solution for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS). By combining FlightAware’s data processing platform and web-interface with Aireon’s space-based ADS-B network, GlobalBeacon transcends borders and Flight Information Regions (FIRS) and provides 100% global coverage, including over deserts, polar airspace and oceanic regions. Therefore, airlines and aircraft operators are able to exceed GADSS standards and recommended practices for flight tracking.

Aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out transponders are tracked automatically with their position broadcast in real-time. Since ADS-B Out 1090MHz is mandated throughout the world, most aircraft do not require additional equipment to take advantage of GlobalBeacon.

FlightAware is the world’s largest flight tracking data company and provides over 10,000 aircraft operators and service companies, as well as over 12,000,000 passengers with global flight tracking solutions. FlightAware leverages data from air traffic control systems in over 55 countries, from its network of ADS-B ground stations in over 175 countries, from Aireon space-based global ADS-B, and using global datalink (satellite/VHF) via every major provider, including ARINC, SITA, Satcom Direct, Garmin, Honeywell GDC, and UVdatalink.

The FlightAware HyperFeed™ engine’s seamless integration of thousands of real-time, worldwide data sources combined with its powerful, intuitive, responsive and reliable web-based interfaces and data feeds yield the most capable and useful flight tracking application and service. FlightAware is the first company to offer free flight tracking services for both private and commercial air traffic and quickly rose to become the most popular flight tracking service.

WEMMH patent attorneys John McNett (a licensed pilot) and Bill McKenna worked with three tech-savvy pilots, led by Daniel Baker to obtain 12 U.S. patents, addressing numerous features of their rapidly growing business when FlightAware was created in 2005. WEMMH has also secured trademark registrations in over 50 jurisdictions throughout the world to protect the FlightAware brand. See their website at www.flightaware.com or download their app on your smartphone.