Gulfstream G650 First in the Family to Get Jet ConneX

Satcom Direct's tail-mounted KA-band terminal STC has been approved by the FAA on the Gulfstream G650, granting operators yet another pathway to improved satellite service in flight.

The company's Plane Simple tail-mount even received the blessing of Gulfstream Aerospace itself, since the firm assisted with Satcom Direct when sorting everything out for the STC. The Plane Simple antenna - cute name, BTW - is designed to complement existing Satcom Direct hardware, like their WiFi hub and Direct Gateway Router. The full suite should be pretty similar in performance to similar Ka-band antenna suites, just being easier to acquire and a little less costly to equip than a more involved installation. More STCs for other models are, as always in the works too, and will be announced as they're approved. For now, the Satcom Direct FlightDeck Freedom comms platform has already been chosen as the default datalink system for production G500, G600, and G650ER aircraft.

Satcom Direct says the Plane Simple suite connects easily with existing Viasat GX satellites, allowing it to use the Jet ConneX service and future GX satellites. Once in place, those GX pieces will kick connectivity up a notch to offer streaming, video calls, and VPN speeds that are quickly becoming a standard for the well-heeled Gulfstream crowd.

“The latest STC in our growing portfolio gives Gulfstream G650 owners and operators access to more speed, more data, and more service plan flexibility. This is complemented by the added value delivered by our SD ecosystem, which provides access to industry-leading, genuinely global customer support, unparalleled cybersecurity services, and a connectivity system designed to maintain pace with the changing connectivity landscape,” said President of Satcom Direct, Chris Moore. 

FMI: www.satcomdirect.com