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Global aviation giant adopts NZ tracking system

Palmerston North-based Spidertracks has signed a deal for Cessna to distribute its satellite-based tracking solutions internationally.

The satellite-based tracking solution from Spidertracks.

Cessna Aircraft Company will sell Spidertracks’ tracking systems through its 360 parts and service centres worldwide.

Cessna is the world’s largest light aircraft manufacturing company.

Spidertracks uses GPS coordinates and the Iridium satellite network to track aircraft or other vehicles in real-time. This means an aircraft or vessel can be located at all times - wherever it is in the world.

Spidertracks’ director Bruce Bartley launched the system at Cessna’s annual dealer conference in Wichita, Kansas, in late September 2008.

“Spidertracks is about safety and peace of mind for pilots, aircraft owners, fleet managers and families.

“It’s a good fit with Cessna’s commitment to enhancing the safety of its aircraft and its pilots.”

Bartley says Cessna sold over 1,200 light aircraft and small jets last year.

The deal will give Spidertracks access to those and the approximately 190,000 Cessna light aircraft flying around the world today.

“We exceeded our early expectations by selling hundreds of spiders in the first 18 months and we’ve now got clients in 28 countries.

“But this partnership has the potential for us to sell tens of thousands of systems internationally.”

Before signing the agreement with Spidertracks, Cessna spent over eight months testing the spiders. It wanted to ensure they are compatible with existing electronic equipment aboard Cessna aircraft.

The tracking system takes the search out of 'search and rescue' by recording the position of aircraft or vehicles as they are moving.

The system links a web-based client interface to a small portable tracking device that combines satellite communication and GPS technology. The tracking device does not need an external antenna.

The spider communicates GPS position coordinates, speed, altitude and direction back to the Spidertracks’ website.

This information is translated into tracks of the aircraft’s or vehicle’s movements and overlaid over Google maps.

This article originally appeared in Bright magazine on December 2008 / January 2009. Issue 31.