Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Satcom provider Iridium Communications is now making its satellite-based positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) commercially available, following the announcement of development nine months ago. The PNT chip is available to developers of navigation products for protection from global navigation satellite system (GNSS) jamming and spoofing, which affects the relatively weak signals from GNSS constellations.
The ASIC “delivers cryptographically secure timing and location data from the Iridium satellite network through one-way signal bursts that are powerful enough to work where traditional GNSS often cannot, including inside structures and in contested environments,” according to Iridium. The chip measures 8 by 8 mm and weighs less than 0.2 grams.
Skyband Systems has signed up for the Iridium chip and will include it in its M100 LRU for business and commercial aviation avionics products. According to Skyband, “The M100 combines Iridium PNT with onboard inertial sensing to alert crews to GNSS jamming and spoofing while providing aircraft location for enhanced situational awareness.”
“Iridium’s secure and powerful global service is the perfect platform for Skyband’s resilient navigation product,” said Skyband co-founder Robert Wiggenhorn. “We are excited to partner with Iridium as they launch the Iridium PNT ASIC and look forward to further strengthening their legacy of aircraft innovation and safety.”

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Skyband Systems has signed up for the Iridium chip and will include it in its M100 LRU for business and commercial aviation avionics products.

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