At the 67th annual Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) convention in Dallas, Airtext General Manager Jonathan Pinson took the stage to announce significant updates to their product line. While the company is known for low-cost connectivity, this year’s focus shifted heavily toward aviation safety and countering GPS interference.
Updates to the Oasis Entertainment Server
Airtext started by revisiting their “Oasis” product, an all-in-one Wi-Fi entertainment server introduced last year. The device handles CMS control, XM radio, and media streaming.
For 2024, Airtext announced a new feature for Oasis: Composite Video Output.
- The Benefit: This allows aircraft owners to keep their existing video backbone and older displays.
- The Upgrade: By simply swapping the moving map “brain box” for the Oasis, operators gain modern functionality without ripping out their legacy screens.
The Growing Threat: GPS Spoofing
The highlight of the presentation addressed a critical safety issue: GPS spoofing and jamming. Pinson highlighted that aircraft are increasingly being tricked into accepting false GPS positions, leading to catastrophic system failures like false terrain warnings and navigation errors.
Recent incidents were cited in the Middle East, the Baltic Sea, and domestic U.S. locations like Dallas (DFW), Denver, and Sun Valley, Idaho.
The Solution: Airtext+
To combat this, Airtext introduced the new “Spoof Proof” functionality within the Airtext+ system. This technology is designed to detect bad data and keep the aircraft safe.
Key Features of Airtext+:
- Multi-Constellation Receiver: Uses advanced algorithms to detect jamming and spoofing attempts.
- Real-Time Pilot Alerting: Immediately notifies the crew if the GPS signal is compromised.
- Dead Reckoning: Calculates the aircraft’s true position even when GPS signals are unreliable.
- Event Reporting: Sends real-time data reports over the Iridium satellite network.
Installation and Availability
The system is compact, requiring only the Airtext+ hardware, a small “hockey “puck”-sized antenna, and an annunciator (which can be an installed switch or a notification on a pilot’s phone/tablet).
- Certification: The product is certified and currently flying on Falcon 900, Citation X, and Lear 60 aircraft.
- Shipping: Airtext is currently taking orders, with shipping scheduled to begin in April 2024.
