Public safety aviation needs reliable data links in places where terrestrial coverage is limited. FlightSat addresses this by connecting aircraft to a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. This FAQ explains what FlightSat is and how it is being delivered to Australia.
What is FlightSat?
FlightSat is an aviation SATCOM solution that connects aircraft to an LEO satellite network and routes traffic to public or private networks through ground gateways. The result is a stable, low‑latency IP link. Indicative performance (subject to airframe, antenna placement and network conditions) is 100-300 Mbps down, 20-40 Mbps up with ~20-40 ms latency.
This link can support:
- Secure data transmission in flight and on the ground
- Onboard Wi-Fi for crew and clinical staff
- Access to critical systems and communication platforms
- Streaming capability for video, maps, and medical data
- Reliable coverage across regional and remote Australia
The aviation hardware is designed for aircraft use and tested to MIL-STD-810H and RTCA DO-160. It has accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours across rotary- and fixed-wing, supersonic and unmanned aircraft.
It is already flying on several aircraft types, including the PC-12, providing mission-critical data over 3,000+ flying hours in public safety aviation for Bridger Aerospace, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control, and Bode Aviation.
Why Was FlightSat Developed?
Operators working across remote and regional areas face coverage gaps that interrupt data exchange during time‑critical missions. FlightSat was developed to reduce these gaps and to support mission‑critical, real‑time data for aeromedical retrieval, search and rescue, policing, and disaster response.
Who Developed FlightSat?
FlightSat is the result of a collaboration between three United States companies. Each brings complementary experience to the solution.
Baxter Aerospace (United States)
Baxter Aerospace has a long track record with SpaceX programs, including Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Dragon, and Starlink. The company designs, builds, and tests custom aerospace hardware for public-safety missions, including Starlink-based terminals, power controllers, and modems, and supports aircraft integration.
Leonardo DRS (United States)
Leonardo DRS designs, develops, integrates, installs, tests, and supports turnkey platform solutions. The company provides Field Service Representative (FSR) support to U.S. government customers and delivers custom aircraft integrations with ongoing technical support.
Overwatch Aero (United States)
Overwatch Aero specialises in data management and remote operations across fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned platforms. The team has extensive experience supporting U.S. government and public-safety missions and designs network architectures that manage data across Starlink-enabled links.
What is Fire Hawk Services?
Fire Hawk Services is an Australian, and veteran-owned and operated company providing technology integration and capability development in the aviation sector. We work with Overwatch Aero to deliver FlightSat to Australia for fixed- and rotary-wing public safety aviation.
Fire Hawk Services works directly with clients to:
- Assess platform suitability
- Coordinate installation with CASA-certified partners
- Provide training and user support
- Offer tailored data plans and pricing
- Integrate FlightSat into training and operational readiness exercises
What Aircraft Types are Currently Approved for FlightSat?
FlightSat is operating on several aircraft types in the United States under field approvals, with multiple STCs in progress.
Fixed‑wing
- Aero Commander AC‑690
- Beechcraft King Air
- Cessna Caravan
- Daher Kodiak
- GippsAero GA8 Airvan
- Grumman American AA‑5B
- McDonnell Douglas F‑15 Eagle
- Pilatus PC‑12
Rotary‑wing
- Airbus H125 (AS350)
- Bell 430
- Bell UH‑1 Iroquois (Huey)
- MD‑530F
- MH‑60R Seahawk
- Sikorsky S‑92
Unmanned Aerial Systems
- DZYNE Ultra and LEAP
- Resolute ISR Eagle
- Vertical Autonomy FVR‑90
Where Can I Find More Information?
For more information about FlightSat, contact FlightSat@firehawkservices.com.au or visit the Fire Hawk Services – FlightSat webpage.