The old cliche that big things come in small packages rings true with Blue Sky Network, a global provider of GPS tracking and communication solutions for land, sea, and aviation assets. Today the company announced its newly launched ultra-portable D410A flight-following and messaging transceiver will operate on its first flight spanning two continents. Despite its small form factor, the Iridium satellite-powered D410A will capably track the location of a jet traveling from Brazil to the United States January 6th. The trip will also be viewable to the public via a live map on Blue Sky Network’s website over the next several days.

The D410A will enable an Embraer Phenom 100, piloted by Ben Marcus of jet Aviva, to stay in touch via regular GPS reports and two-way texting capabilities. Beyond these basic flight tracking features, the D410A is unique in that it charts an aircraft’s location and facilitates web-based message transmission via Blue Sky’s SkyRouter web portal, a Yahoo!-based map accessible to anyone with an Internet connection.

Traditionally, flight tracking and communication devices are cumbersome to move and difficult to install or transfer between aircraft. And with relatively hefty price tags, many aviation fleet managers understandably prefer to use flight trackers on multiple planes or helicopters. The D410A is sized and priced specifically for this situation. At just 22 ounces with an affordable price point, the device can be easily carried on to small planes or helicopters, and powers on with the push of a button, eliminating the hassle of complicated deployments while offering superior tracking over the renowned Iridium network.

“Traveling over the Atlantic, from Brazil in particular, has at times shown to be a perilous mission, with ground personnel losing contact with planes that don’t carry global flight tracking equipment,” said Carlton van Putten, Blue Sky Network’s Senior VP of Sales and Marketing. “This flight will demonstrate the robustness of the D410A and its ability to keep an aircraft safe and secure during a long journey, anywhere in the world, in spite of its compact size, speedy installation, and minimal cost.”

The pocket-sized D410A additionally includes key features like an integrated antenna, optional Blue Sky Messenger software for Windows Mobile PDAs, and two-yr Lithium battery. It lets pilots easily track speed, altitude, and GPS location and is built to withstand the harshest environments. Contract helicopter transport, international business charter, aerial firefighting medical evacuation, and public safety aviation operators depend on Blue Sky Network’s powerful transceivers to deliver reliable GPS and event data around the globe.