Business Jet Interiors
  • News
      • Air Quality
      • Aircraft Acquisition & Completions Management
      • Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
      • Airframes
      • Cabin Equipment
      • Certification
      • Completion, Refurbishment & Maintenance
      • Events & Awards
      • Galleys & Catering
      • Human Resources
      • Hygiene
      • IFEC & CMS
      • Interior Design
      • Lighting
      • Materials
      • Seats
      • Sustainability
      • Windows
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • Dec 2024 / Jan 2025
    • Sept / Oct 2024
    • July 2024
    • March / April 2024
    • Dec 2023 / Jan 2024
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Subscribe
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Events
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Subscribe to Magazine Subscribe to Email Newsletter Media Pack
Business Jet Interiors
  • News
      • Air Quality
      • Aircraft Acquisition & Completions Management
      • Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
      • Airframes
      • Certification
      • Completion, Refurbishment & Maintenance
      • Events & Awards
      • Galleys & Catering
      • Human Resources
      • Hygiene
      • IFEC & CMS
      • Interior Design
      • Lighting
      • Materials
      • Seats
      • Sustainability
      • Windows
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. Dec 2024 / Jan 2025
    2. Sept / Oct 2024
    3. July 2024
    4. March / April 2024
    5. Dec 2023 / Jan 2024
    6. Archive Issues
    7. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    In This Issue thumbnail March/April 2025
    28th March 2025

    In This Issue – March/April 2025

    Online Magazines By Web Team
    Recent
    In This Issue thumbnail March/April 2025

    In This Issue – March/April 2025

    28th March 2025
    In This Issue thumbnail December 2024/January 2025

    In This Issue – December 2024/January 2025

    7th January 2025
    Cover graphic

    In This Issue – September/October 2024

    1st October 2024
  • Videos
  • Podcast
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Events
  • Jobs
    • Browse Industry Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn
Business Jet Interiors
Certification

SD antenna system enters airborne testing phase

Izzy KingtonBy Izzy Kington18th March 20213 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
The Plane Simple Ku-band tail-mount antenna installed on SD’s Gulfstream aircraft for validation
The Plane Simple Ku-band tail-mount antenna installed on SD’s Gulfstream aircraft for validation

Satcom Direct (SD) has begun the process of testing its purpose-built Ku-band tail mounted antenna system in flight, one year since the company launched its Plane Simple satcom antenna systems.

The transition from development to ground assessment to the aerial testing phase aims to validate the full performance capabilities of the Ku-band terminal. Inflight trials will also confirm the system’s integration with the SD ecosystem of hardware, software and supporting ground infrastructure.

The antenna, which is now equipped on SD’s Gulfstream aircraft, will be stretched to the limits of its capabilities while providing empirical feedback about its functionality in an aerial environment.

“It is our company philosophy to always bring products to market that we have validated internally, and we are in a unique position to have the ability to undertake system testing on our own aircraft, which gives us direct performance feedback,” said Jim Jensen, founder and CEO at SD. “The aerial validation is the next step in becoming a single-source provider of end-to-end connectivity solutions for business and government operators worldwide, which will streamline the connectivity ownership experience and customer support services.”

The aerial testing follows completion of intense drive testing in Melbourne, Florida, using a customised mobile platform.

SD’s investment in the hardware series is intended to meet the business aviation sector’s appetite for flexible, reliable and cost-effective connectivity solutions. The Plane Simple tail-mounted antenna system will support super-mid to large-size jets and is being developed in partnership with QEST, a Germany-based aeronautical antennas specialist.

“Aviation is moving towards a digital industry, and data is the foundation for informed decision-making by operations, finance and maintenance departments,” said Jensen. “It is essential that we can offer powerful connectivity solutions to a much broader business aviation audience that also support enhanced data management and analytics. The start of our inflight testing within a year of announcing the hardware expansion highlights just how committed we are to meeting these market needs.”

The Plane Simple Ku-band antenna is the first in a series of antenna systems being developed by SD. As a value-added manufacturer and service provider for Iridium Certus, SD is also designing and manufacturing a Plane Simple antenna system for compatibility with the new network offering from Iridium, while also providing the service directly to the business aviation community.

The company is aiming to launch a Ka-band variant tail-mount antenna in 2022, followed by an electronically steered, fuselage-mounted phased-array antenna, designed to deliver high-speed connectivity via upcoming LEO constellations.

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleFalcon 6X takes to the skies
Next Article FAA type certification for Beechcraft King Air 260
Izzy Kington

Izzy has been part of the Business Jet Interiors International team since its second issue, and the editor since 2011. She also edits Auditoria and Railway Interiors International. Outside of work, Izzy is rediscovering her love of art by learning how to paint with watercolors.

Related Posts

exterior view of aircraft hangar
Certification

ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia earns JCAB certification for Falcon 2000EX maintenance

16th May 20252 Mins Read
closeup of hands touching laptop, on private jet
IFEC & CMS

400+ customers for Viasat JetXP connectivity service

15th May 20254 Mins Read
aircraft antenna - a low-profile, rectangular, white box
IFEC & CMS

Gogo earns PMA for Gogo Galileo FDX antenna

9th May 20252 Mins Read
Latest Posts
portrait

FEATURE: Design Forum – Robin Dunlop of Altea

16th May 2025
View along the lobby with two business jet cabin mock-ups in foreground, followed by glass-walled room, and large screen and seating in the background.

Gulfstream’s reimagined London showroom unveiled

16th May 2025
Business jet in air

Interior testing part of remit for second Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 test article

16th May 2025
Supplier Spotlights
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • LinkedIn
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Subscribe to Magazine
  • Meet the Editors
  • Contact Us
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aerospace Testing
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Air Traffic Technology
  • Business Airport
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Thursday


© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.