Story ID: 
Satcom Direct Ka-band Receives DO-160 Approval
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: The Plane Simple Ka-band satcom will be certified in 2024
Word Count: 230
After more than 400 hours of validation and environmental testing, Satcom Direct’s Plane Simple Ka-band tail-mount antenna and terminal has received DO-160 approval. The environmental testing included “extensive weather, thermal, and vibration qualifications,” according to Satcom Direct. Flight testing took place on Satcom Direct’s Gulfstream G550.
With DO-160 approval in hand, Satcom Direct has lined up its first customer for the Ka-band satcom. The first supplemental type certificate is expected to be approved by the end of the first quarter of 2024. Development of the Plane Simple Ka-band satcom follows Satcom Direct’s commercial introduction of the Plane Simple Ku-band system early this year.
The new satcom connects to Viasat’s Jet ConneX service on the Global Xpress GX satellite constellation, part of Viasat’s recent acquisition of Inmarsat. According to Satcom Direct, buyers of the Plane Simple Ka-band system “can later upgrade to Viasat’s full Ka-band network, including the ViaSat-3 satellites and next-generation GX satellites as they come online.” Jet ConneX customers can now also opt to pay an hourly rate for the satcom service.
“This second iteration of our Plane Simple antenna technology is a game-changer for the industry as it unlocks the complete current and future performance capabilities of the Global Xpress network and minimizes beam and satellite switching time,” said Satcom Direct president Chris Moore.