Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, is supporting the Think Global Flight mission to highlight the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, and the boundless worldwide opportunities in the aviation and aerospace industries.
Captain Judy Rice and Navigator Fred Nauer will take off in their single-engine, piston-driven Cirrus SR22T from the SUN ‘n FUN Air Show in Lakeland, Florida, on 3 April, 2014, to fly to 25 countries around the world and 31 US states. In each city, Captain Judy and her team will talk to students about aviation and aerospace, the importance of STEM education, and the impact green technologies are having on aviation.
In parallel, Student Command Centres are being established around the world, involving more than 20,000 students in research, analysing data, and working together to provide the technical support required for the Think Global Flight crew to circumnavigate the globe.
To help facilitate the connections between the air crew and the Student Command Centres, Inmarsat is providing Captain Judy with an IsatPhone Pro and satellite airtime. It will allow Captain Judy to make a daily report to the global participants at the end of each flight leg.
Captain Judy Rice said: “Being able to talk to people, and to transmit flight information, is right at the heart of this project. The ability to communicate with people and share the experience as widely as possible is what is making all the difference to raising the profile of what we’re doing.
“We want to inspire people about the potential of aviation and aerospace. To do that we need to be able to talk to them and we are very grateful for Inmarsat’s support.”
The Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro is a handheld satellite phone that enables calls, including voicemail, SMS and email, and GPS location data.
Miranda Mills, Inmarsat President, Aviation, said: “The future of our industry is in the hands of today’s school children. Think Flight Global is a fantastic initiative to raise aviation’s profile and we are very pleased to be able to help Captain Judy and her team. I will be following her trip very carefully and I have no doubt it will be a huge success.”
Think Global Crew
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ISAT.L).
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Jonathan Sinnatt
Head of Corporate Communications
+44 (0)20 7728 1935
[email protected]
Charlie Pryor
Leidar for Inmarsat Aviation
+44 (0)20 7031 8270
[email protected]
Think Global Flight is an around the world flight promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) through aviation and aerospace education inspiring students to succeed and excel in these critical areas. The project currently has succeeded in generating $900,000 toward the flight with $100,000 remaining representing fuel. All tax deductible donations go either directly toward education or the flight. All are volunteers, including the flight crew. See the web site: www.thinkglobalflight.com.
