Cabin connectivity has become one of the most important attributes of a business aircraft over the past few years as travelers look to stay in touch and keep communicating seamlessly. They also expect the same level of internet service they are used to on the ground. Satcom Direct (Booth ???) has been providing these on-board capabilities for 20 years now, and has been celebrating this year's milestone at shows such as ABACE in Shanghai and EBACE in Geneva.
The Melbourne, Florida-based company opened a Brazil office near Congonhas Airport in 2011 and the team here is led by Ewerton Libanio, director Satcom Direct Brazil. The office’s main role is to provide support to Latin American customers and other international customers flying into the region.
“Brazil is an important market for Satcom Direct and the office provides valuable support to the Latin American customers flying in and out of Brazil,” Libanio told AIN. “As with all of SD, the office provides premium local support, so you do not need to call a remote HQ to get help.”
The company added that its Brazil office is developing and growing the connectivity offering for Brazillian operators “who appreciate that they can better control their internet usage, operational awareness, maintenance scheduling, connectivity, through the value-added services.” Libanio pointed to SD Pro as “something the operators really value; and it is proving popular.”
He also said that like Satcom Direct’s other international offices, “SD Brazil will use the TrueNorth acquisition to help local service centers provide a package solution to the end user by bringing together the hardware, software and connectivity, all through SD.
“It really is connecting the aircraft from nose-to-tail with the flight departments and providing a single source for all connectivity resources under one roof, making life easier for the operator. They don’t have to go to two or three different people if something malfunctions. SD is there as the single source to advise and support.”
The company has also been developing training services over the past few years, notably Aero IT and Aero CNCT, with support for both available through SD Brazil. A series of workshops is being held around Brazil to inform the region of the connectivity offering, said Libanio.
“SD has already held a workshop in Fortaleza for aircraft operators from the north and northeast of Brazil to present and discuss all SD solutions. It was a great success and there are plans to hold other workshops.SD sees the market as one that it can successfully develop.”
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Satcom’s 20 Years
Satcom Direct, the Melbourne, Florida-based satellite communications and equipment provider, is here at LABACE celebrating its 20th year since it was founded by Jim Jensen. Alongside this, the company has introduced a new SmartBox for IFE content this year, and a new Fans data link unit. Following the company’s acquisition of TrueNorth, it has developed the company’s Fans 1/A solution and believes it is very relevant in markets such as Latin America and Africa, “with huge areas to cover and less developed infrastructure.”
Last year was particularly busy for Satcom Direct, with the unveiling of SD Pro at EBACE 2016 in Geneva. This is an integrated flight operations management platform, with trip support by Universal Weather & Aviation. Also in 2016, SD added two new networks, Inmarsat JetConnex (JX) and Panasonic Ku-band, significantly increasing data rates.
As well as TrueNorth, SD also made two other key acquisitions recently: COMSAT–the Airbus government satcom company, and AircraftLogs, which offers scheduling software, finance and tax reporting plus integration with SD Pro.
Earlier this year, the company noted that adding TrueNorth allowed it “to cover everything from the smallest aircraft that can fit equipment on board to the largest VIP/head-of-state aircraft.”
To help its customers attain better on-board conectivity, SD offers the SD Router (SDR), SD WiFi Hub and TN Optelity cabin gateway. SD Hub and LTE serve as Wi-Fi access points, and if the router is in back and the client is in front and there’s no signal, SD can extend the Wi-Fi signal to every part of the airplane.
SD is preparing to start delivering its new LTE Hub, which is more capable that its current Wi-Fi hub, enabling LTE connectivity in-flight. It's the smallest aircraft router, but uses the fastest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard.
Another important area is cybersecurity, and SD is keen to assist corporate flight departments to extend network security to their aircraft. This is essential as it is usually the top executives in the airplane, so the information they are dealing with can be very sensitive. Yet there is a risk that once on board, communications become vulnerable.
The company therefore has been offering compliance consultations at shows such as EBACE so they can find out how their IT infrastructure can be extended to their airplane, a VPN for example.
Another advantage of SD’s growth is that it has added many international offices in recent years, so that now it has “strategically-placed” offices close to aircraft OEMs, such as Savannah, Georgia (for Gulfstream), Little Rock, Arkansas (for Dassault), Seattle, Washington (for Boeing), and of course São Paulo, Brazil (for Embraer).
It also has offices in Moscow, Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Australia. The aim of the company has been to create a network where it can be “within three hours’ flying time of all of our customers.”
“Since 1997, connectivity has become an integral part of the business aviation sector. It is no longer just about connecting a phone to a phone; to succeed you must be innovative, create strong partner relationships and understand the needs of the user,” said SD founder Jim Jensen. “Passengers need reliable high-speed data access, crews need connected cabin management systems, and the flight deck must maximize technology to be synchronized with flight departments. The needs of the market drive our team to continually create new products which we believe will improve the aviator and passenger experience,” he concluded.
SmartBox [with pic?]
At the EBACE show in May, in Geneva, Switzerland, Satcom Direct demonstrated to visitors how its new SmartBox could allow access to the Lufthansa Technik nicemedia premium content service on all IFE/CMS platforms. At the same time as this launch it created the SD Entertainment brand, which is likely to be further developed in the future.
SmartBox expands the number of aircraft types that can benefit from the nicemedia system, which delivers Hollywood blockbuster movies and contemporary TV shows to the cabin.
The content can be viewed on cabin monitors, or can be streamed to personal electronic devices including iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets. Multiple devices and users are supported, allowing passengers to watch different content on PEDs and cabin monitors at the same time.
Automated monthly content updates can be downloaded to the SmartBox while on the ground, avoiding additional data usage onboard. Up to 450 movies and TV shows per year will be available.
SD said the carry-on box is unique and needs no STC, just an Ethernet connection to the router, which finds the nicemedia device by itself.
The unit measures five inches by seven inches by two inches and weighs 2.3 pounds (1.04kg) and deliveries started at the end of May.
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Cabin Crew Connectivity Training
In April, Satcom Direct formally launched aeroCNCT, which it proclaimed to be the industry’s first “Crewmember Network and Connectivity Training certificate program.” The aeroCNCT, (or “aero connect”) course was created to support industry professionals that work with, or are responsible for, connectivity during flight. It is designed to give flight departments and crews the knowledge and understanding of onboard connectivity, how handheld devices affect flight operations, and how to troubleshoot basic cabin networking issues.
Areas covered include internet connection basics, network familiarization, data management, flight operations preparation, and passenger device and application troubleshooting.
“Staying connected has become an essential part of any flight as principals and customers expect systems to work. AeroCNCT is designed to demystify the network and ensure crew have the confidence and familiarization to fix basic technical issues inflight,” said Mark Mata, director of training, Satcom Direct.
Candidates who successfully complete the exam, developed with CompTIA to maintain industry standards, are awarded a professional credential. The exam can be completed at Pearson Vue testing centers worldwide, or at Satcom Direct’s world headquarters in Melbourne, Florida.
The certification is valid for three years, and can be renewed via online or classroom training, similar to other cabin crew certifications from SD and its training partners.
The course complements SD’s existing aeroIT certification, which more than 200 students have completed since its launch in May 2015.
Fans Unit [caption to pic?]
Satcom Direct subsidiary TrueNorth introduced a new Fans-1/A over Iridium data link unit (DLU) with voice at EBACE in May, with first units due to ship in the third quarter of 2017. It has the same size and footprint as the TSO C-139a DLU and has single-channel voice plus data for safety services. Transport Canada, EASA and FAA certification is expected shortly.
“Our focus is to consistently improve the user experience, be it in the cabin or the flight deck,” said Mark van Berkel, general manager, TrueNorth. “Our new DLU-vox will allow operators to better manage their workload. Text-based contact with air traffic control reduces communication errors, and a channel of enhanced quality voice provides added flexibility. Both will help foster smooth flight operations.”
Based on TrueNorth’s flagship data link unit—which the company claims is aviation’s most popular Iridium-based Fans-1/A solution, with more in service and more STCs than any other system—the DLU-vox is a lightweight, standalone device for the flight deck.
“The DLU-vox is an important addition to our product portfolio,” says Chris Moore, chief commercial officer at Satcom Direct. “Fans-1/A capabilities offer clear operational and business benefits. Pairing DLU-vox with SD services, like our FlightDeck Freedom application, gives operators the ability to work more effectively, fly more efficient routes and reduce fuel costs; significant considerations that are important to both pilots and aircraft owners.”
Added van Berkel, “Part of our mission is to provide flight crews with the most effective means of communicating with ATC, ground operations and other aircraft without disrupting cabin communications. Through the direct connection into the flight deck voice system, DLU-vox gives pilots the ability to communicate in a manner that best dovetails with their own working routines.”
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SD’s Timeline Highlights
1997 Founded by Jim Jensen
2002 Became Inmarsat reseller
2004 Designated Iridium service provider
2008 ViaSat reseller for Yonder
Acquired Honeywell OneLink
2009 Became SwiftBroadband reseller
Launched AeroV VoIP
OneView (DirecTV)
SD Flight Tracker
Opened Sao Paulo office
2012 Started international expansion
Opened offices in Farnborough, Dubai, Montreal and SĂŁo Paulo
2013 Opened Hong Kong office
SDR certified
Distribution partner for Inmarsat JetConneX
2014 Opened Offices in Ottawa, Geneva and Moscow
GlobalONE IP, aeroXR
SmartSky SP
SDR selected for Gulfstream new aircraft forward fit
2015 Opened Denver Office
New World HQ opened in Melbourne, Florida
Global VT launch
2016 Launched live TV streaming on SD Live at NBAA
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