Satcom Direct has carried out the first installation of a Satcom Direct Plane Simple Ku-band antenna on a Brazilian registered executive jet. The terminal was installed on a Gulfstream G550 in July. The aircraft is the first executive jet to optimise SD's advanced antenna technology in Latin America, and the operator has already confirmed it will be adding the system to the same undisclosed owner's Gulfstream G450 in Q1 of 2024. Three additional Brazil-registered Gulfstream G550s are scheduled to have the equipment installed before the end of 2023, and SD Brazil already has a backlog of orders for 2024.

Ewerton Libanio, managing director for SD Brazil, says: “SD is raising the connectivity bar with this new purpose-built class of antenna for the business aviation sector. Our clients in this region have been eagerly waiting for a simplified, high-speed data solution, and we are already delighted to hold orders for next year. More importantly, we are giving customers greater flexibility, cost-effective connectivity options and a single resource to fulfil every connectivity need for those flying within Latin America and around the globe.”

The installation gives the Gulfstream operator access to the power, versatility and convenient management of the SD Plane Simple advanced antenna technology. The owners fly for business and leisure and use the connectivity to stay productive and entertained. Connected with the Intelsat FlexExec high throughput satellite network, the only dedicated business aviation airtime in the sector, the passenger experience will be enhanced by the consistently reliable connectivity.

The simplified antenna installation requires fitting just two-line replaceable units, namely the tail-mounted antenna and the SD modem unit, which simplifies upgrade pathways, reduces aircraft downtime and optimises maintenance budgets. Available now, the installation makes the complete SD ecosystem of hardware, software, ground infrastructure, cybersecurity and award-winning customer support immediately available to corporate, private and government owners, as well as supporting special mission airframes.

Brazil's Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil, ANAC, has released an STC for the Plane Simple Ku-band terminal for the Gulfstream G550 installation as well as for Gulfstream GIV, GIV-X, G450, GV and GV-SP types. In addition, Dassault owners benefit from the STC awarded by the ANAC for Dassault F2000LX/LXS, F900EX/LX, and Falcon 7X models.

The executive jet installation follows the equipping of a Brazilian-registered Embraer EMB-110 for operator Fototerra, which uses the technology to transmit coastal images in real-time directly to its customers.