First special missions aircraft to be fitted with SD’s Plane Simple

Satcom Direct (SD) installs first Plane Simple antenna on a special mission aircraft. The Ku-band variant is being installed on a Brazilian-registered Embraer EMB-110 used for airborne geographic data capture. The aircraft belongs to operator, Fototerra and will be the first Plane Simple installation in the Latin American region.

SD has called in the services of aviation consulting firm, Pro Aero and Brazil’s largest aeronautical certification company and SD reseller, Jazz Engenharia Aeronáutica to help with the installation. Jazz will complete the installation and liaise with ANAC, to generate the STCs. SD expects installation will commence in late August, with redelivery expected towards the end of September, and crew training to follow.

The Plane Simple Ku-band antenna will be located on top of the twin-turboprop’s fuselage, in the centre of the aircraft to heighten operating efficiencies. 

Gulherme Pinho, CEO of Fototerra said: “Reliable broadband data transmission will improve efficiencies, increase productivity and enhance the services we provide to our customers. We have been waiting for this capability for a long time and are enthusiastic about completing missions with the technology in place.” 

Designed exclusively for business aviation, the Plane Simple terminal and Intelsat FlexExec network require two-line replaceable units – the SD Modem Unit and the SD Plane Simple Antenna – to activate data transmission. 

Satcom Direct Brazil, managing director, Ewerton Libanio, said: “This installation is a perfect example of how by collaborating with like-minded companies Pro Aero and Jazz, we can break into new territory regarding aircraft data transmission. Jazz has completed more than 800 projects and modified more than 1000 aircraft since launch in 2009, and Pro Aero specialises in delivering solutions to aviation stakeholders that improve efficiency and operations.  This collective knowledge and extensive experience position them as the perfect partners for us to work with for this, and future projects.”