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

For the past five months&nbsp;Satcom Direct has been testing Intelsat’s new FlexExec airborne connectivity service on its Gulfstream GIV. FlexExec runs on Intelsat’s Ku-band satcom network and it offers aircraft owners and operators a new way to pay for satellite communications hardware and services via a power-by-the-hour program. Unlimited and pay-as-you-go plans will also be available.

 


Satcom Direct (Booth 250) is the master distributor for FlexExec, which means that it can sign up service providers to deliver satcom services to their own customers. But Satcom Direct is also a service provider offering the FlexExec service to its customers.

 


“There is a lot of room for improvement [in business aviation satcom],” said Mark Rasmussen, Intelsat vice president&nbsp;and general manager, mobility. “This is a perfect time to make a move with a partner like Satcom Direct.”

 


The FlexExec satellite network is dedicated to business aviation and it doesn’t serve other bandwidth-using markets such as commercial aviation, terrestrial, and maritime customers. “This is the first business aviation network that does that,” he said.

 


The Intelsat constellation includes six high-throughput satellites launched during the past three years. These are bolstered by another 45 satellites&nbsp;and the combined network provides high throughput where 99 percent of customers operate around the world. The network delivers “enormous amounts of throughput,” he said. “It’s focused not just on speed to the airplane but consistency of service.”

 


The multiple satellites allow for layering of spot beams in high-traffic regions&nbsp;to ensure consistent service when multiple users occupy the same area. Coverage is global&nbsp;and network speed is up to 10 Mbps. In about one and a half years, that is expected to grow to 25 Mbps. The Intelsat network is also the only SOC-3 (service organization control)-compliant business aviation satcom network, according to Rasmussen. SOC-3 is an auditing system for security and privacy standards.

 


The airborne hardware for FlexExec is the Astronics (Booth 214) AeroSat FliteStream&nbsp;T-310 system, which weighs 59 pounds and includes a lightweight steered 12-inch dish antenna that mounts in an empennage radome. The smallest business airplane that can accommodate the T-310 satcom is a super-midsize Bombardier Challenger 300, according to Astronics.

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

Intelsat and Satcom Direct Launch Satcom By-the-hour

The new FlexExec satcom service and hardware will be sold on a power-by-the-hour basis.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

Flight-tracking service is available for display on passengers' devices

FlightPath3D and Gogo Extend Bizav Partnership

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.

The German company is taking a new approach to aerospace display technology.

Zeiss Microoptics Brings New Display Tech to Aircraft Cabin, Cockpit

Charles Alcock

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

ProSight technology is being demonstrated at the Farnborough Airshow

Zeiss Debuts New Approach to Cockpit and Cabin Displays 

Expands company’s offerings for high-speed, global connectivity

Pro Star Delivers G280 Gogo Galileo Satcom Installation

New service plans distinguish between a single area and global coverage

Starlink Doubles Aviation Prices, Adds Region Boundaries

Amy Wilder

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.

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