Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Satellite communications service provider Satcom Direct has unveiled the company’s first certified aviation hardware product, a router that integrates with any satcom and manages cabin communications, runs software apps and connects to 3G/4G cellular networks. The new Satcom Direct Router (SDR) weighs less than 10 pounds, meets DO-160G and DO-178B Level E (soon D) standards and will be available in May. “We wanted to make this [router] as robust and flexible as possible,” said Jim Jensen, Satcom Direct founder and owner. 
The SDR works with any satcom system and allows simultaneous use of different constellations, seamlessly switching between different networks. Available satcom networks include L-, Ku-, Ka- and X-band. Flight departments can split Wi-Fi traffic on the router, for example, allowing the aircraft owner to use the highest-speed connection and giving passengers access to a network with less bandwidth. Software apps that run on the router include Satcom Direct’s own moving map and Flight Tracker iPhone/iPad apps, plus one that permits command and control of satellite links and another for real-time connection status reporting.
SDR specifications include gigabit Ethernet support (eight ports for WAN, LAN and cabin connectivity); 802.11n dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz); ISDN support; 3G/4G cellular data support for communication on the ground (roaming agreements are in place with 120 countries); Arinc 429 bus support (four receive and two transmit interfaces for location services and engine trend monitoring); discrete I/O support (four inputs, four outputs); and Satcom Direct’s NextGen Aero X, which “allows acceleration, compression and optimization of multiple satellite links.”
Satcom Direct is working on supplemental type certificate approvals for installation of the SDR on business jets. The SDR will work with Inmarsat Swift 64 and SwiftBroadband satcoms by Cobham, EMS, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and Thrane &amp; Thrane, as well as ViaSat’s Yonder and Gulfstream’s BBML. SDR is also ready for Inmarsat’s upcoming Global Xpress satcom. 
Satcom Direct is selling the SDR through a dealer network. “We will support the dealers to ensure they are installed properly,” Jensen said. The SDR retails for $27,000.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Satcom Direct Unveils Aviation-centric Router

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Jet Access brings full-service approach to upgrade

Jet Access Completes Third Excel G5000 Retrofit

Jessica Reed

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Move facilitates integrationinto AW139 fleets operating across Asia-Pacific

PAG To Distribute Honeywell RDR-7000 Radar in Asia

Charles Alcock

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Ailumina Vista visual traffic detection system could first be used on helicopters 

AI and Sensors Set to Boost Aircraft Situational Awareness 

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Pilots report improved situational awareness with in-cockpit traffic display

Acron Aviation Demos SafeRoute+ ADS-B In Solutions

Kerry Lynch

Range of updates offered

Garmin Expands Navigation Database to South Pacific

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

More In Avionics

Jet Access Completes Third Excel G5000 Retrofit

Jet Access brings full-service approach to upgrade

PAG To Distribute Honeywell RDR-7000 Radar in Asia

Move facilitates integrationinto AW139 fleets operating across Asia-Pacific

AI and Sensors Set to Boost Aircraft Situational Awareness

Ailumina Vista visual traffic detection system could first be used on helicopters

Acron Aviation Demos SafeRoute+ ADS-B In Solutions

Pilots report improved situational awareness with in-cockpit traffic display

Garmin Expands Navigation Database to South Pacific

Range of updates offered

Joint Effort To Field Iridium-based GNSS-Denied Solution

System takes advantage of low-earth-orbit satellites’ stronger signals

FAA Certifies Universal Avionics Wi-Fi-enabled FMS Tech

Connected flight management system incorporates comprehensive security measures

FreeFlight and Collins Team Up on ADS-B Integration

STCs include Textron and Hawker aircraft

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN