The Foundation of Advanced Connectivity Solutions
Tom Cruise famously stated, “I feel the need, the need for speed” in the first Top Gun movie as he headed out on yet another fuel-burning, afterburner-powered, fast-jet mission. Nearly 40 years ago, when the film was released, the term speed related predominantly to adrenaline-fueled racing, flying, or driving. Today, the term has transitioned, and speed relates as much to data transmission rates as it does to the velocity of cars, planes, or trains. However, as data demand grows exponentially, connectivity is no longer just about speed. The experience delivered, the systems capabilities, global consistency, and the capacity to easily upgrade and adapt to a dynamic, morphing landscape is just as important. It is these qualities that enable the longevity of connectivity performance and protect the asset owner investment.
These are also the foundations on which Satcom Direct (SD) delivers connectivity to customers seeking to replicate their data usage through all phases of flight. So, when PB Engineering Solutions Ltd (PBES), headed by consummate aircraft management professional Paul Burke, requested a very specific connectivity service that demanded an unparalleled experience, we were pleased to accept the challenge. We were told it was impossible to deliver future-proofed, consistent, reliable service across the globe. At SD, we pride ourselves in understanding that one size does not fit all, our innovative spirit and technological prowess, so we set about defining and designing a tail mount connectivity solution unlike any that had gone before. Our mission: to ensure we would fulfill the very specific requirements of the owner.
Aligned Visions and a Shared Mission
PBES is based at the UK’s Farnborough airport and is located in the same hangar as the SD International office. However, it is not just this physical presence that unites SD and PBES; we are aligned on our business approach and commercial vision. We are both focused on providing leading services and support to customers while constantly innovating new solutions to familiar and novel problems. Our businesses have grown in parallel, and this has supported the building of a strong and long relationship.
The proximity also supports the practicalities of business as PBES has easy access to both the SD lab/testing environment and our onsite technical expertise. We share ideas and advance concepts from vision to reality, as well as provide immediate support if there are coverage outages or technical challenges. With 39 aircraft under management, of which 90% are Bombardier types, this instant customer support adds real value to the business. Paul says that our team “has always been flexible, accommodating and professional.”
A New Era of Connectivity for the Bombardier Global 7500
So, when the owner of the first registered Bombardier Global 7500 in the UK selected PBES to bring the aircraft into service and requested a connectivity solution that was more reflective of a military or government solution, Paul chose SD to fulfill the demanding brief. The extremely successful business executive in the tech sector wanted to push the boundaries of connectivity for this type of aircraft. This mission required the development of a system that could deliver consistent high-broadband speeds wherever the aircraft was flying in the world.
Collaborative Design for Unmatched Performance
The two-year project involved close collaboration between multiple parties at SD, PBES, and Viasat, which was selected as the airtime provider. To ensure success, the unique project required complex system design, intense testing, and proof-of-concept validation before deployment. It was the perfect platform to demonstrate how ingenuity and strong relationships can come together to enable the impossible. As we wait for our own SD Plane Simple® tail mount antenna to be certified across multiple platforms, we worked with a traditional tail mount antenna equipped beneath the Global 7500 radome.
Maximizing Connectivity Capabilities with Viasat
To optimize the existing business aviation hardware to deliver maximum performance, we collaborated with Viasat to ensure that we pushed its capabilities to the connectivity limits. Our close relationship with the satellite network provider ensured we could specify and evolve the airtime requirements to meet the intense demands.
When you push the limits, it is essential that rigorous validation takes place. We began tests in our state-of-the-art connectivity lab environment. This was followed by rigorous on-wing trials, with flights to and from Montreal, the Greek islands, Florida, the UK, and Channel Islands showcasing the impressive performance. Supporting PBES with our VVIP entry-into-service proposition, we were able to introduce the connectivity system on wing, demonstrate its unique properties, and enable crew to maximize the one-of-a-kind potential delivered by the customized solution. “It was a real advantage to have SD professionals walking us through every step of the way. Their incredible focus on delivery and expertise in the field made the impossible, possible.”
Providing an Unmatched Connectivity Experience for Global 7500 Passengers
With the incredible connectivity experience living up to expectations, the Global 7500 passengers can seamlessly move connected life on the ground to above the clouds, effortlessly transitioning from productive work time to relaxed leisure time, wherever they are in the world.
Secure, High-Speed Connectivity Anywhere in the World
The aircraft, which entered service just under a year ago, is now available for charter in Europe. The ultimate in-flight experience, made secure through SD cybersecurity services, is attractive for those seeking to work, rest, and play as access to live sports, streaming entertainment, and work-related applications during extended long-range trips is uninterrupted.
The project exemplifies that with SD, customers get so much more than speed. Work with us and benefit from deep technical expertise, an innovative mindset, and award-winning customer support. This is driven by forging solid relationships and our ability to listen to our customer demands, define a concept, design a solution, and execute it to meet and exceed connectivity expectations. We are proud that we were able to connect a client of PBES, beyond all their expectations.
