SD’s Plane Simple antenna series now commercially available
SD CEO and Founder Jim Jensen with a Plane Simple Ku-band tail-mount antenna
Satcom Direct has announced the entry into commercial service of its Plane Simple antenna series, following two years of development, rigorous testing, and a thorough customer in-service evaluation.
The SD Plane Simple Ku-band tail-mount terminal, developed in partnership with QEST, is powered by the multi-layered, high-throughput Intelsat FlexExec network, the first airtime service dedicated to business aviation.
The singular design of the first antenna consists of just two line replaceable units, the SD modem unit and tail-mount antenna. This minimizes installation times, reduces maintenance fees, and located in the unpressurized part of the fuselage, frees up valuable cabin space.
“We had an idea that we believed would change how aircraft owners and operators think about connectivity. Together with our partners, we are developing, building, testing, and proving the Plane Simple technology, a product line that helps our customers be prepared for now and the future,” said Jim Jensen, CEO and founder of Satcom Direct, in a February 1 press release. “Prior to the Plane Simple offering, high-speed connectivity options were limited by capacity, restrictive pricing plans, invasive installation, and were incompatible with changing satellite markets. The Plane Simple antenna series resolves these needs, and we’re proud to make this advanced, innovative antenna technology available to new and existing customers.”
The Satcom Direct flight department has test flown the Plane Simple Ku-band technology using its Gulfstream G550, logging more than 560 total hours of flight time to confirm the global commercial readiness of the system. “We are passionate about raising industry standards, and the Plane Simple Ku-band terminal, when married with SD’s FlightDeck Freedom, allows for real-time network monitoring to assure crew and passengers are supported by our world-leading customer service team. The mantra in our NOC is we ‘know before you know’, indicating that we are always one step ahead of the aircraft connectivity to ensure unbroken coverage globally,” added Jensen.
Confirming the success of the terminal’s flight trials, all those participating in the in-service evaluation have transitioned to customer status.
The system has already received Federal Aviation Administration STCs for Bombardier Global 5000, 6000, Express, Express XRS, Dassault F2000LX/LXS, Gulfstream GIV, GIV-X, G450, GV, GV-SP, G550 types with the European Aviation Safety Agency also confirming STCs for Bombardier Global 5000, 6000, Express, Express XRS and Dassault F2000LX/LXS models.
