The terminal connects with Eutelsat OneWeb’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network.

“The agreement with Avcon Jet heralds a new era for fleet connectivity,” says Chris Moore, president, Satcom Direct, . “We are committed to meeting the needs of aircraft operators seeking genuine global coverage and are excited that with Avcon Jet, we can demonstrate the advantages of working with the multi-faceted Plane Simple portfolio of antenna systems to fulfill the demand for high-speed connectivity across a broad portfolio of airframes.”

Alex Vagacs, chairman of Avcon Jet Group, said: “We strive to deliver our customers the best connectivity experience possible, which is why we welcome the opportunity to equip our fleet with  the advanced SD antenna systems.”

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The milestone has been achieved after more than 400 validation hours covering tests such as weather, thermal, and vibration qualifications. The second variant in the Plane Simple hardware series, SD’s antenna exclusively connects with Viasat’s Jet ConneX inflight broadband solution, powered by the Global Xpress, GX satellite constellation. 

The certification is next phase toward entering commercial service. SD has confirmed its first customer and is also talking with other operators who want to be a part of the supplemental type certificate (STC) generation. The first STC is expected in early 2024.

Chris Moore SD president said: “This second iteration of our Plane Simple antenna technology is a game-changer for the industry as it unlocks the complete current and future performance capabilities of the Global Xpress network and minimises beam and satellite switching time. We’re delivering the most powerful, reliable, and genuinely global connectivity to operators that depend on us to keep them connected during flight.”

Customers equipping airframes with the terminal will have access to global coverage with the GX satellite constellation. They can later upgrade to Viasat’s full Ka-band network, including the ViaSat-3 satellites and next-generation GX satellites as they come online.

Kai Tang head of Business Aviation at Viasat said: “SD has a reputation as a technology-forward company. Its innovative approach, guided by a commitment to deliver powerful new connectivity solutions to support the very specific needs of business aviation users, is exemplified by creating the first terminal that will connect with our existing and next-generation Ka-band satellites. 

“This pioneering vision is one that we adhere to as it adds real value to the offering. We’re pleased to be working with SD to offer customers exceptional connectivity experiences through customised Viasat service plans, including the first-ever power-by-the-hour payment option for Jet ConneX, enabling business jet operators to pay an hourly rate for inflight connectivity,” added Tang.

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The new plans will be made exclusively available to SD operators, equipping their aircraft with the SD Plane Simple Ka-band tail mount terminal. The option also includes the first-ever ‘power by the hour’ option for Jet ConneX. The new service plans will enter commercial service once regulatory certification is confirmed, which is anticipated for early 2024.

The terminal, purpose-built for business aviation, consists of two line-replaceable units (LRUs). A tail mount antenna with a reduced footprint and the SD Modem Unit. SD said it and Viasat are making more powerful Ka-band connectivity available for more aircraft sizes than ever before.

Chris Moore, SD President said: “Our goal is to ensure our business aviation customers can benefit from consistent, reliable service. Our Plane Simple Ka-band technology, combined with the new plans and our industry-leading customer support, adds further value to our offering. Customers require flexibility and consistency, and together with Viasat, we are committed to delivering a superior service that aligns with diverse operational budgets and individual customer demands.”

Satcom Direct and Viasat have also confirmed that the SD Plane Simple Ka-band terminal will connect immediately with the GX satellite constellation. Plus, it will be upgradable to Viasat’s full Ka-band network, including the ViaSat-3 satellites and next generation GX satellites as they come online.

Kai Tang, head of Business Aviation, Viasat, added: “Our continued joint innovation with Satcom Direct delivers seamless, global connectivity solutions that meet and exceed customer expectations.  With the strength of our next-generation satellite network and the advanced hardware technology of our partner, we can continue to provide exceptional connectivity experiences for business aviation passengers.”

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Available from 2025 the antennas are designed for compatibility with OneWeb’s low earth orbit constellation. The collaboration will see Gilat develop the antenna system while Satcom Direct Avionics, the Canadian hardware manufacturing division of SD, will work with OneWeb to develop the SD Modem Unit to harness the full potential of the LEO constellation. This ESA terminal, including the radome, will aim to provide a compact form factor of around 2.5in or 64mm. 

Chris Moore, president at Satcom Direct, said: “We already have a strong relationship with OneWeb and have engaged with Gilat, due to their long SATCOM, aviation, and radio frequency pedigree, to create the next generation ESA in support of creating a solution that provides more options to our customers seeking reliable high-speed connectivity or additional redundancy. The ESA terminal will provide genuine global coverage and superior bandwidth performance, complemented by ease of installation.”

Adi Sfadia, Gilat CEO, said: “Together, we will create a next-generation ESA to support the dynamic connectivity demands of the global business aviation sector with a best-in-class antenna. The agreement gives us the opportunity to expand our proven technology know-how in commercial aviation and to showcase our expertise alongside Satcom Direct, the only company dedicated to delivering satcom connectivity to business and government aviation worldwide. It is a major milestone for Gilat as we extend our global IFC leadership in commercial aviation to business aviation, as well as into our strategic focus area in government and defence.”

Neil Masterson, CEO OneWeb added: “The combined expertise of Satcom Direct Avionics, Gilat and OneWeb will deliver customers faster, more consistent broadband services across the globe. In the dynamic connectivity landscape, it is essential we team with premium partners, which is why we’re delighted to be part of this powerful offering as we reinforce our presence and service in the business aviation sector.”

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The prototype terminal was mounted on the company’s Gulfstream G550. Using the tail-mount antenna and SD Modem Unit components, the terminal is testing the hardware’s compatibility with Inmarsat’s inflight broadband service Jet ConneX, powered by its Global Xpress constellation.

“Like SD, our aim is to give customers best-in-class consistent, global coverage, now and in the future, said Kai Tang, head of Business Aviation, Inmarsat. “We anticipate that SD hardware technology, combined with our enhanced next-generation satellite network, will reinforce our position as the premium connectivity experience for SD customers.”

The Plane Simple Ka-band antenna is the second terminal in the SD Plane Simple antenna series and is functioning under an aircraft-specific supplemental type certificate (STC). The company will validate the prototype during regular flight operations, with the data used to finalise the design.

Chris Moore, president, Satcom Direct said: “We have a long-standing relationship with Inmarsat, having evolved numerous connectivity services together to deliver superior experiences to users. We are excited to begin on-wing testing with them.”

In-service client evaluation is due to commence in Q4 2023, with the subsequent STCs also to be confirmed by the end of this year.

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SD provides its service to governments, and military aircraft. Jet ConneX is supported by the SD router family, which augments in-flight connectivity efficiency, delivers a portfolio of customisable SD applications and supports cybersecurity management.

Chris Moore, SD President Business Aviation, said: “In addition to delivering powerful communications to improve inflight productivity, the collection, aggregation and analysis of data generated by the aircraft improves flight operations, enhances efficiency, and improves financial management.”

SD was the first business aviation communications provider to offer its services and transmit data over Inmarsat’s first two Global Xpress satellites.

“Satcom Direct has collaborated with Inmarsat for more than 20 years and we recognise that this 500^th Jet ConneX activation confirms them yet again as one of our most valued partners. SD continues to provide visionary services to its customers and Inmarsat is just as committed to supporting the customer experience. We can only continue to do that by closely collaborating with our partners to keep delivering exciting new global connectivity services to the aerospace market,” said Kai Tang, Senior Vice President of Business and General Aviation at Inmarsat.

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Long term SD customers will be invited to witness the power of SD Xperience first hand. The fully-synchronized, end-to-end connectivity solution combines the full suite of SD cabin and cockpit communications services, aircraft connectivity hardware, and flight operations software to deliver consistent connectivity around the world.

Adding extra power to the portfolio is the newly introduced FlexExec broadband service, for which SD is the Master Distributor, delivered in partnership with Intelsat and Astronics AeroSat. Business aviation’s first dedicated connectivity service will join existing service providers in the SD portfolio to ensure SD customers benefit from customized, seamless, synchronized,  consistent on-demand global connectivity. SD Xperience customers also benefit from SD ground infrastructure as the SD Data Center enables the application of existing compliance and security protocols for aircraft networks to mitigate cyber-attack and maintain data integrity.

“With the introduction of SD Xperience we demystify the connectivity selection process, simplify the business aviation connectivity experience, and improve operational efficiency. By aggregating and integrating our suite of products into one portfolio we’ve created a powerful means of providing connectivity services around the globe for an increased number of platforms. We anticipate the demonstration flights will give customers even more insight to what business aviation connectivity can do to improve the flight experience and look forward to showcasing it to the international audience,” says Moore.

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