Austria-based International Jet Management (IJM) has inked a supplier agreement with Satcom Direct (SD). SD is exclusively providing voice and data services, as well as flight deck communication functionality, to the existing and future IJM fleet. In addition, IJM is implementing SD Pro, the intelligent data management platform, to synchronise flight operations, while any troubleshooting and technical issues will be resolved by the round-the-clock SD customer support team.

“We are an expanding mixed fleet. This necessitates partnering with a company that offers a versatile suite of connectivity services to support the varying needs of each aircraft from the short-range Learjets to the ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650. We also recognise the growing threat of cyber-events on private aviation and welcome the opportunity to implement processes that mitigate them and keep our customers' data safe,” says Robert Schmölzer, MD of IJM. “The broad range of connectivity competence, and the flexibility of service provision along with the cybersecurity products contributed to our selection of SD as our exclusive provider.”

Demonstrating the value of the SD Xperience portfolio, which enables customised bundled packages, each tail in the IJM fleet now benefits from its own tailored SD suite of services. The agreement includes the provision of hardware with routers from the SDR series, supporting customisation of aircraft connectivity, as well as access to SD software for increased functionality and data capacity for passengers and crew. Jet Connex and SwiftBroadband from Inmarsat, as well as Iridium services, deliver seamless, high speed data transfer and global voice capabilities. In the cockpit, SD FlightDeck Freedom provides datalink functionality, improving situational awareness and flight deck communications.

SD is also working with IJM management to optimise the SD Cybersecurity Threat Monitoring service, a module accessible through the SD Pro operating system. The system constantly tracks inbound and outbound threats while delivering real-time, centralised visibility of the cabin network. Unusual network behaviour is highlighted using a variety of threat analysis and prevention solutions, as well as human expertise.

Michael Skou Christensen, SD VP international explains: “The ability to package our hardware, software, cybersecurity and connectivity services to support the very different requirements of a mixed fleet of some 30 aircraft simplifies connectivity management for IJM. It makes flight operations much easier by synchronising all of the operational elements across the fleet into a single dashboard. Accessible by all members of the flight team, the SD Pro platform improves efficiency, communications and streamlines the operations, which improves the flight experience for everybody.”