The low Helios orbit speed presents a fixed spot in the sky, enabling cheaper fixed ground antennas about the size of a pizza box. The Helios operating altitude of over 50,000 feet is above the jetstream. Extreme reliability is needed to fly unattended for 4,400 hours and there are a minimum of moving parts on Helios. The remote pilots are in a benign environment and one pilot can control several aircraft. Staying aloft for several months at a time, less time is wasted in climb, descent, and weather and traffic delays.
Systems are more reliable with fewer takeoffs and landings and less turbulence.
Landings can be picked within a range of days to avoid bad weather. Only a few ground stations are needed worldwide to control aircraft at many locations. One or two stations should control the entire U. S. coverage. The company is also looking at military and disaster relief reconnaissance missions. Most natural disasters occur near the tropics where the aircraft has particularly good performance.