Satcom Direct (SD) has achieved a significant milestone for its FlightDeck Freedom datalink service by activating its 2,000th aircraft. The head-of-state customer signed for the service to take advantage of its configuration options, ability to integrate third-party flight planning services, evolving compliance support and the streamlining of flight crew and ground operations workflow.

Specifically designed for business and military aviation, FlightDeck Freedom features an open architecture design to support every type of avionics and datalink-capable airframe and can be customised to meet each customer and/or aircraft platform's mission needs. On launch in 2007 it was the first datalink service to give customers the freedom, hence the name, to select, upload from and communicate with preferred third-party trip planning services and today is still the only datalink service provider with a comprehensive offering of flight planning options. FDF also continues to be the only service that supports flight deck and cabin communications enabling crew to monitor connectivity and troubleshoot issues in real time to better manage passenger expectations.

In addition, FDF enhances operational safety through direct delivery of automated notifications including hazardous weather, route and security alerts, and supports real time aircraft and fleet tracking worldwide, which can be monitored from the ground and in the air. The unique GeoNotification feature details when aircraft are approaching a defined geographic area that may affect connectivity or be defined as sensitive airspace.

Integrated with SD Pro, the digital flight operations management system, data shared through FDF synchronises flight crew with ground operations, keeping team members informed about aircraft performance in real time to support improved flight operations, budgeting and maintenance scheduling. FDF also supports fleet compliancy with FANS, ADS-C and CPDLC to meet evolving air traffic control safety requirements and the changing landscape of business aviation operations.

“Our focus is to always enable our customers to manage their flights and operations using the services, products and systems that best suit their needs. FDF was one of our first services built using open architecture to allow integration of third-party services. Reaching this milestone demonstrates the market's hunger for integrated services that streamline the workflow. As the digitisation of aviation continues to evolve, we will continue adapting and modifying our products to meet the changing requirements of flight crew, ground operations and the business aviation infrastructure,” says president of Satcom Direct business aviation Chris Moore.