BOULDER, Colo. Orbital Micro Systems Ltd. (OMS), developer of space system applications and advanced instrumentation for small satellite missions, is partnering with Satavia, a provider of digital environmental intelligence, to deliver advanced predictive weather analytics for the airline industry. Satavia will use the high temporal resolution weather data provided by OMS to enhance its solutions, which enable aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and operators to minimize unscheduled aircraft maintenance caused by environmental factors.
OMS announced its inaugural satellite launch as part of its Global Environmental Monitoring Satellite (GEMS) program, scheduled for autumn 2018, in conjunction with the U.K.’s In Orbit Demonstration (IOD) program.
GEMS will scale to 35 units on orbit, providing temperature, humidity, and precipitation data for a broad range of commercial applications. Its advanced miniaturized microwave sounders will provide global weather data at refresh rates of 15 to 30 minutes at multiple points from the surface to beyond commercial aviation altitudes. Current weather data sources deliver data at refresh rates of three hours or longer.
“Satavia supported the OMS IOD project proposal and is preparing to be an early adopter of OMS data for operational atmospheric environmental modelling,” says Adam Durant, chief executive officer of Satavia. “Unscheduled maintenance of aircraft is disruptive and costly for airline operators. With OMS datasets, we can enhance our observational capability to identify and predict in-flight encounters with high-altitude icing, and other environment-related factors that can impact maintenance planning. Access to the enhanced atmospheric data from OMS satellites will enable operators to proactively schedule maintenance, and reduce costs and operational disruption.”
“Satavia has been an excellent partner and advisor throughout the development of the GEMS program, providing feedback and insight for addressing the commercial aspects of space-based weather data applications,” OMS Chief Executive Officer William Hosack notes. “Satavia’s digital environmental intelligence application is one of many critical use cases in airline operations made possible by more accurate and timely weather data such as providing near real-time severe weather warnings that can help pilots and flight planners avoid costly turbulence and storms. We look forward to a mutually beneficial engagement with Satavia that will benefit all stakeholders in the aviation sector.”
Orbital Micro Systems (OMS) specializes in the development and delivery of technology for space applications. With broad expertise in applied science, weather science and earth observation, instrumentation development, space operations, and program delivery, OMS is positioned to deliver innovation to many areas of the aerospace sector.
Satavia Ltd. is located in Cambridge, U.K., and offers aircraft engine manufacturers and airlines digital environmental intelligence on atmospheric contaminants to improve the safety, performance, and operating costs of aviation. Satavia aggregates cutting-edge software technologies developed in Atmospheric Science with Artificial Intelligence and offers data solutions to engineering problems affecting the aviation industry. Satavia recently appeared in the 2017 Tällt Ventures Disrupt 100 list of businesses with the most potential to influence, change or create new global markets.
