Ahead of the in-person AEA International Convention & Trade Show being held in Dallas, Texas from 22-25 June, Satcom Direct is building on the success of initial aerial testing of its Plane Simple antenna series with the installation of the advanced technology tail-mount antenna on a second aircraft type, the SD Dassault Falcon 2000LX.

The antenna is already equipped on the SD Gulfstream G350 and is said to have performed beyond expectations, demonstrating the system's proficiency to enable true broadband experience during some 100-plus flights. The addition of the Dassault platform to the validation process will double testing capacity to give direct feedback about the system's capabilities.

“Adding a second platform will serve to further verify the benefits of integrating the new advanced technology antenna with the already proven SD ecosystem of hardware, software and terrestrial infrastructure,” comments SD president of business aviation Chris Moore. “Our mission is to analyse the performance and deliver a powerful, reliable, validated, connectivity solution to our early adopter customers. The dual-testing on two very distinct aircraft platforms demonstrates our commitment to providing end-to-end connectivity for a wider selection of aircraft types than ever before. Ahead of in-service evaluation with customers, which is slated to begin Q3 2021, it also provides us with the opportunity to generate our first commercial STC, which will support installation for Falcon 2000 owners worldwide.” Further STCs will follow before the end of the year.

Installation of the Plane Simple dual variant antenna is taking place at the Dassault Falcon Jet facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. Aerial validation on the Falcon 2000LX begins in July and will confirm the terminal's functionality across the Intelsat FlexExec network, stress the system by using simultaneous, multiple high-bandwidth applications and verify its capabilities across a range of flight dynamics.

“We are focused on developing products for the business aviation community that have been designed specifically for the unique requirements of the sector,” continues Moore. “We are not repurposing existing technology but using our experience as business aviators to bring a series of antennas to market that will meet the demanding needs of our business, military and government aviation customers.”

The Plane Simple Ku-band antenna is the first in a series of antenna systems being developed by SD in partnership with Germany-based QEST Quantenelektronische Systeme, a market leader in innovative aeronautical antennas. Once activated the terminal will support the Intelsat FlexExec Ku-band service, which has been designed specifically to support business aviation operator needs.