SD bolsters Plane Simple Ku-band antenna progress with installation on Falcon 2000LX

Ahead of the in-person AEA International Convention & Trade Show, Dallas 22- 25 June, Satcom Direct - booth 617 - confirms it 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 has performed beyond expectation demonstrating the system’s proficiency to efficiently 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 comparative feedback about the system’s full 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. Our mission is to analyse the performance and deliver a powerful, reliable, validated, connectivity solution to our early adopter customers,” says Chris Moore SD President of business aviation.

The SD Falcon 2000LX ready for Plane Simple antenna installation.

“The dual-testing on two very distinct aircraft platforms demonstrates our commitment to providing seamless 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 Supplemental Type Certificate 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. 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,” adds Moore.

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 GmbH, a worldwide 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.

During AEA Satcom Direct will introduce the new antenna at the New Product Innovation morning session on Tuesday 22 June and will give more technical details at a workshop during the afternoon.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 24th June 2021 | Issue #611