Satcom Direct confirmed at EBACE 2024 that Avcon Jet, a private aviation management company, is the launch customer for the SD Plane Simple Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) Ku-band, flat-panel terminal.
On service introduction, Avcon Jet is looking to equip multiple aircraft with the technology, as part of a wider fleet upgrade programme. Avcon Jet will also look to outfit aircraft with the SD Plane Simple Ku-band tail-mount antenna powered by Intelsat FlexExec airtime, which is dedicated to business aviation; and the Ka-band tail-mount variant, which connects with the Viasat Ka-band existing and next-generation satellites.
The SD Plane Simple ESA terminal connects with the Eutelsat OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation and is fully duplex and multichannel. Delivering global connectivity, the network is designed to deliver terrestrial-style speeds of 195Mbps download and 36Mbps upload. Purpose-built satellite technology for business aviation, the SD hardware will be combined with SD ground infrastructure and customer support, all designed to provide consistent and reliable connectivity service.
“The agreement with Avcon Jet heralds a new era for fleet connectivity,” said Chris Moore, president of 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 multifaceted Plane Simple portfolio of antenna systems to fulfil the demand for high-speed connectivity across a broad portfolio of airframes.”
The decision to utilise the complete SD Plane Simple antenna portfolio brings multiple benefits, SD said. Built on an open architecture structure, the agnostic antenna designs are intended to reduce obsolescence by enabling simple upgrade pathways, adapt to the evolving connectivity landscape and simplify management and administration to deliver a streamlined connectivity experience.
“Avcon Jet has always been at the forefront of innovation,” said Alex Vagacs, chairman of Avcon Jet Group. “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. The superior technology aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver exceptional services to our customers.”
