Boeing and United Airlines have carried out flight tests to assess an updated aircraft data communications system aimed at improving how information is shared between pilots, air traffic controllers and airline operations centres.
The testing used a United Airlines Boeing 737-8, operating as Boeing’s 2025 ecoDemonstrator Explorer aircraft. United pilots flew a series of test flights to evaluate Internet Protocol Suite standards, which are designed to enable internet-based communications between aircraft and ground systems.
The tests were run over about two weeks from late October, with flights operating in the United States out of Houston and in Europe from Edinburgh, Scotland.
The system is intended to improve the speed and reliability of data sharing during flight, with a focus on day-to-day operations and how aircraft interact with air traffic control.
“Boeing is proud to lead the advancement of digital communications that significantly enhance safety and operational efficiency in commercial aviation,” said Boeing chief technology officer Todd Citron. “Our collaboration with United Airlines and the industry team is a pivotal step towards improving the reliability and speed of communication between the flight deck and air traffic control to enable safer, more efficient flight for the flying public.”
United’s involvement focused on integrating the testing into real airline operations, according to the carrier.
“The ecoDemonstrator project is an outstanding collaboration to help support the ongoing upgrades within our air traffic control system and enhance safety for our customers and the global aviation community,” said United 737 chief test pilot Andy McKee. “After many months of careful planning, United is proud to have executed this flight test effort with Boeing and our other partners, leveraging the expertise of all our teammates to help shape the future of flight.”
The ecoDemonstrator programme was launched by Boeing in 2012 to test emerging technologies in operational aircraft rather than in laboratory settings. Over that time, more than 250 technologies have been trialled through the programme, covering areas such as safety, fuel use, emissions, noise and airline operations.
The latest round of testing involved a wide range of industry and government partners, including aviation authorities in the United States and Europe, aircraft communications providers and academic institutions. Boeing said the flights marked the final testing phase after around a decade of development work on the technology.
Companies and organisations involved in the ecoDemonstrator Explorer project include Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, SITA, Thales and Viasat, along with the European Space Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA’s Air Traffic Management – eXploration Project and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
“Data communications are essential to the safety and performance of tomorrow’s aircraft,” said Nate Boelkins, president of avionics at Collins Aerospace. “Our work with the ecoDemonstrator Explorer program advances performance-based connectivity and interoperability, helping create more reliable, secure and agile operations across global airspace.”
“As the aviation industry ushers in a new era of digital communications, Thales is proud to play a key role in shaping the future of flight,” said Nicolas Bonleux, vice president at Thales Aerospace Communications. “Our AVIATOR 200S system, the smallest and lightest cockpit IP Satcom, empowers operators like United to support more efficient operations while modernizing the flight deck with real-time connectivity for smarter, safer decision-making.”
“As aviation evolves, so too does the need for communication systems that can support emerging requirements, such as trajectory-based operations, which demand technologies beyond current standards,” said Yann Cabaret, chief executive of SITA for Aircraft. “By partnering with Boeing on their ecoDemonstrator IPS Testing program, we at SITA are actively testing these innovative solutions in real-world, multi-link environments, advancing our shared vision for safer, more efficient, and better-connected skies.”
“This partnership marks a crucial milestone towards a unified global solution for Air Traffic Management,” said Laurent Jaffart, ESA director for connectivity and secure communications. “Through this testing of interconnected digital communications, we are not only advancing operational efficiency but also moving towards safer and more efficient airspace. Ultimately, this will deliver significant economic benefits and help reduce emissions, supporting the aviation industry in achieving its sustainability goals.”
“Viasat is excited to be partnering with Boeing on the ecoDemonstrator program to show how satcom datalink supports current and future Trajectory Based Operations,” said Joel Klooster, senior vice president of Viasat airline operations and safety. “Building off the European Space Agency’s Iris Global program, now operational in Europe, this activity demonstrates the ability of Viasat’s SB-S service to support the transition to ATN/IPS, the next generation of IP-based datalink critical to supporting increased air traffic volumes in a sustainable and efficient manner.”
