Features Innovations UAVs
Erickson Air-Crane chooses Blue Sky solution

New SkyRouter provides comprehensive satellite tracking, and when used in combination with Blue Sky Network’s leading D1000 Automated Flight Following (AFF) compliant tracking hardware, it provides Erickson assets with near real-time data while on location, and enhanced situational awareness and fire retardant usage. With Blue Sky Network, Erickson is benefiting from increased efficiency, safety, and two-way communication around the world.

“Blue Sky Network’s satellite tracking solution enables crucial communication with our pilots and aircraft in remote areas. Communication is constant and uninterrupted, an essential feature during firefighting operations,” said Erickson Marketing Communications Manager Brian Carlson. “We selected Blue Sky Network because they provide superior reliability and coverage for our fleets, and enable us to differentiate our operations during critical missions such as aerial firefighting.”
 
Erickson has become a leading, and rapidly growing, global provider of aviation services to a diverse mix of end markets, including firefighting. The company acquired Evergreen Helicopters, Inc., a diversified global provider of cargo and personnel air transport services to government and commercial customers. By leveraging tools like Blue Sky Network’s New Sky Router and D1000 Series tracking hardware, the company benefits from features like satellite tracking and M2M communication to help ensure fires are extinguished efficiently. Erickson has deployed aerial firefighting resources worldwide in areas like Australia, Italy, Greece, and the southwestern United States.
 
To support Erickson, Blue Sky Network’s D1000 Series contains a RS232 port that enables the collection of intelligent asset data, such as the amount of fire retardant being dropped on fires, from external sensors. When paired with the ACH1000, the D1000 Series provides the ability to make voice calls and the benefit of two-way messaging between aircraft and command centers. With New Sky Router, the D1000 Series allows fleet managers to maintain, view and communicate with multiple assets simultaneously on a single map from a centralized command center.
 
“We maintain a strong commit to the aviation industry and continue to enhance our offerings in cockpit with M2M asset intelligence,” said Jon Gilbert, CEO and founder of Blue Sky Network. “Our longstanding relationship with Erickson and the continued incorporation of our solutions into their fleets is a testament to industry adoption of compelling features that enhance fleet operations and our ability to support critical missions like aerial firefighting.”