Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of the US has received approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for installation of the next-generation Satcom Direct Router (SDR), an enhancement that simplifies cabin communications on Gulfstream G550 and G450 aircraft.

“This equipment elevates the airborne office to a new level,” says Mike West, vice president, Product Support Sales and New Business Development, Gulfstream. “The addition of a smart router allows for more communications options in the cabin, including Satcom Direct’s GlobalVT, which allows passengers to use their personal smartphones to call and text in flight. Just as they would if they were on the ground, outgoing calls show the passengers’ personal phone number and incoming calls display the number of the person calling them. This voice and text functionality is seamless, secure and available at any altitude, virtually anywhere in the world.”

The SDR offers 3G cellular connectivity worldwide with any service provider while on the ground and provides the latest technology in data compression and acceleration. 

The SDR also supports mobile applications for onboard cabin services, including moving map and Flight Tracker, command and control of satellite links, and real-time connection status reporting.

The SDR interfaces with ViaSat’s Ku-band and Honeywell’s SwiftBroadband systems, and is designed to work with future connectivity systems, including Ka-band.

Installation of the SDR and accompanying software is standard on new G550 and G450 aircraft and available as a retrofit for in-service G550s and G450s. Passengers can download a mobile app on their smartphones to access Satcom Direct’s GlobalVT service, which is available exclusively from Gulfstream.

The new equipment, which weighs less than 10 pounds, is designed to be installed inside the cabin or avionics bay. Gulfstream’s company-owned service centres have exclusive rights to perform the work. They are located in Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia; Westfield, Massachusetts; Appleton, Wisconsin; Las Vegas; Long Beach, California; Dallas; West Palm Beach, Florida; Luton, England; Sorocaba, Brazil; and Beijing, China.

Gulfstream is pursuing similar supplemental type certificates from the FAA to add this cabin communications enhancement to G650/G650ER, GV and GIV aircraft. 

A wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. 

Gulfstream has produced more than 2,400 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the G150, the G280, the G450, the G550, the G500, the G600, the G650 and the G650ER. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales. The company employs more than 16,000 people at 12 major locations.