Satnews Daily
September 26th, 2013

SkyTrac Systems Transceiver Keeps Air Tindi On Trac In Canadian Arctic For Nine Years



SkyTrac Systems AMO Lead Technician, Kathleen Lengert replacing the battery in Air Tindi’s ISAT-100
[SatNews] “The government and citizens of Northern Canada place their faith in us to provide instant, critical and time sensitive rescue missions across an immense geographic area.

SkyTrac Systems is proud to announce that, after nine strong years of operating in the Canadian Arctic, one of their ISAT transceivers continues to serve Air Tindi’s operations after taking only a brief absence in July 2013 for a routine battery replacement. Air Tindi, based out of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, is a multi-functional airline operating a variety of turboprop aircraft in Northern Canada and Alaska. The company provides a variety of services including scheduled, charter and medevac flights. The organization names safety as its chief core value and utilizes SkyTrac’s satellite communication solutions to support their safety strategy.

In May of 2004, this particular ISAT-100 was installed in a King Air 200 aircraft responsible mainly for medevac missions spanning the harsh Canadian arctic. It had been active in the field with no interruptions or repairs for nine years when it came back to SkyTrac recently for a battery replacement. The unit was found to be in excellent condition and the battery was quickly and efficiently replaced by SkyTrac’s expert production team who also cleaned and tested the unit. The ISAT has since been sent back to Air Tindi and continues to transmit positions through the North, adding to the estimated 129,790 that it has already sent.


Air Tindi’s ISAT-100, receiving a new battery after nine successful years of providing position reports on medevac missions with Air Tindi

Flying in remote areas presents a number of challenges that SkyTrac’s solutions can help overcome. SkyTrac was chosen by Air Tindi because of their reliability and reputation, to aid in enhancing passenger, staff and aircraft safety across a vast, severe area. “The North’s beauty and awe inspiring land is matched only by its harsh and unpredictable environment,” commented Trevor Wever, President of the Air Tindi Group of Companies. “The government and citizens of Northern Canada place their faith in us to provide instant, critical and time sensitive rescue missions across an immense geographic area. Our staff and equipment must be dependable and reliable to deliver on the critical importance of every mission.” The ISAT-100 was able to help mitigate many of the risks associated with flying in remote and extreme environments through the use of satellite communications, and asset tracking and mapping.

Nine years later, SkyTrac still maintains in-house manufacturing capabilities to keep tight control over product quality. SkyTrac’s newest transceiver, the ISAT-200A, provides increased connectivity to on-board systems, enabling for Flight Data Monitoring (FDM), Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA), and increased voice capabilities to further enhance safety, in addition to the tracking, voice, messaging and data capabilities of the ISAT-100.


Air Tindi’s King Air 200 that housed the ISAT to aid in safely serving Med Evac operations

SkyTrac Systems AMO Lead Technician, Kathleen Lengert replacing the battery in Air Tindi’s ISAT-100 “Everyone here at SkyTrac is exceptionally proud when the reliability of our products is proven, especially in such an extreme environment with a long standing client like Air Tindi,” commented SkyTrac President & CEO Malachi Nordine. “The rigor with which this particular product has stood up to the elements is a testament to our manufacturing capabilities, and speaks to the level of quality our clients can expect from all of our products.”