Starlink

Coverage: Global | Satellites: >6000 | Orbit: Low Earth orbit | Aircraft: Airbus Corporate Jets, Bombardier Global 6000, Bombardier Global Express, Bombardier Global Express XRS, Gulfstream G650, Gulfstream G650ER | Upcoming aircraft: Bombardier Challenger range, Embraer Praetor 600, Embraer Praetor 500, Embraer Phenom 300 | Installers: ACC Columbia, ACIJet, ACM Jet Charter, AeroMech, AMAC, Araina Aviation, Banyan Air Service, Business Jet Center, Brunswick Aviation, Bombardier Service Centers, Citadel Completions, Clay Lacy Aviation, Duncan Aviation, Elevate Aviation Group, Elliott Aviation, flyExclusive, Jet Aviation, ProStar Aviation, StandardAero, Stevens Aerospace, Thornton Aviation, West Star Aviation

Starlink

Equipment price:

Approx. $150,000

Installation time:

Two weeks

Download:

40-220MPS

Upload:

8-25MBPS

Latency:

<99MS

Monthly costs 20GB limit:

$2,000

Uncapped:

$10,000

STARLINK WAS already popular with many consumers around the world, especially those who live in rural areas. But the Russian invasion of Ukraine showcased how strong the product is. Within months, thousands of Starlink base stations had been shipped to army units, hospitals and schools in Ukraine. The US government has paid for many of these.

The company had always planned to enter business aviation and it was no surprise that the first customer was Elon Musk, its CEO. Flexjet and Nextant Aerospace (its manufacturing sister company) fitted a Starlink panel to his G650. Most importantly they helped gain the FAA STC for the aircraft. Flexjet is installing Starlink on all its fleet, starting with its G650s, and is working to get certificates for its Bombardier and Embraer aircraft.

Starlink is the only satellite company that has its own rockets. And it takes advantage of this. SpaceX has launched more than 6,000 Starlink satellites. These are operating at about 550km (340 miles) from the earth. Because this is lower than most satellites, it argues that it can send signals faster between the aircraft and the satellite, achieving lower latency. The system also works while the aircraft is on the ground, so customers do not have to wait for take-off.

The company only received its first STC in September 2023 and is a new entrant to business aviation. Rather than having a traditional sales force or partnering with a specialist like Honeywell or Collins Aerospace, interested customers are asked to fill out a form on the Starlink website or contact an installation partner.

Nextant has also engineered and received FAA approval for Starlink installation kits for Bombardier Global Express, Global XRS, Global 6000 and Global 6500 aircraft as well as Gulfstream G550s and G450s. It soon plans to have a kit for Bombardier Challengers and Starlink can be fitted at any Bombardier service centre.

JSX, the US semi-private operator, and Hawaiian Airlines have signed it up for Starlink fleets.

Although the Starlink panel is a simple non-moving one (which should be more reliable), some potential owners are concerned about customer support if things go wrong. In the worst case they can always tweet Musk on X.

Jay Heublein, president of Flexjet global maintenance and product support.

Case study: ‘Passengers experience exceptional, high-speed connectivity’

As one of the largest operators of business jets in the world, Flexjet was a great launch customer win for Starlink. But the company was far more involved. Jay Heublein, president of Flexjet global maintenance and product support, explains how its manufacturing business Nextant Aerospace and in-house maintenance business completed the first installation and gained US FAA certification for Starlink.

OGAC: How did you end up installing the first Starlink in a Gulfstream?

Heublein: It was us who approached SpaceX after years of conducting research on the evolving technology around connectivity solutions for aircraft. Connectivity for passengers while in the air has been an ongoing challenge for the entire aviation industry for years and we had become so frustrated with legacy technology that we were considering acquiring an actual connectivity business to try and fix the problem ourselves.

While early technology solutions were a great first step, they lacked the ability to mirror what our aircraft owners would experience in their boardroom or homes in terms of speed and reliability.

As we worked through our due diligence, we began to appreciate the vision that Starlink had and conceptually the technology made sense. Very few companies had the resources necessary to launch this type of programme at the level of commitment that Starlink was demonstrating. And very quickly we came to believe that this was the right path. Starlink is a true visionary in the space and the level of investment it made early in this programme was staggering. We became convinced that Starlink, and the technology it developed around its LEO satellite constellation, was years ahead of any other potential solution.

OGAC: How hard is it to get a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) where the FAA approves this system for aircraft?

Heublein: The process of developing and certifying an STC is challenging and Starlink falls under the large antenna certification requirements which creates additional challenges. With that said, Flexjet, through its engineering arm Nextant Aerospace, has a well-developed and unique skillset that allows our team to be extremely agile and responsive during the design and certification process. We believe our experience as one of the largest operators of private aircraft also gives us a significant benefit as we know what’s important to a design once it becomes operational.

OGAC: How long does it take to install Starlink on a large cabin aircraft? Does it make most sense to do this alongside another check?

Heublein: The installation process typically takes approximately 12 to 14 days for a large cabin aircraft and the vast majority of work is just the time needed to remove and re-install the interior where access is needed for the antenna install. The actual process of installing the antenna and the hardware is fairly straightforward. There is no reason to wait for a major inspection event as the impact of this product to the owner of the aircraft is immense and immediate.

OGAC: Flexjet Nextant and Constant have really embraced Starlink. Is it because the two companies have a similar entrepreneurial/challenger outlook?

Heublein: They have built an incredible organisation and the technology speaks for itself so “embracing” the company was not really a leap! When you see how focused they are on perfection, you quickly realise that we chose the right group to align with.

We have three fundamental principles that govern our company and one of them focuses on the idea that we need to be fanatical about attention to detail. It is very clear to us that Starlink follows that same idea – which is one of the reasons why we have worked so well together.

OGAC: Will new entrants like Starlink lower the costs of connectivity for everyone?

Heublein: They have already had a significant impact. When you compare the cost of the hardware to older legacy technology, the cost of maintenance and the data subscription costs, they are already well ahead of legacy systems and the actual experience is literally exponentially better. In short, you are paying less for a far superior product.

OGAC: Were you concerned about being early users of the technology?

Heublein: We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of innovation in private aviation, providing unparalleled experiences for our aircraft owners. The addition of Starlink is another element designed to create a trusted and streamlined experience for their day-to-day travels. Our experience allows us to be good partners and our job is to work together with our key vendors to help them solve typical entry into service challenges.

Starlink obviously has incredible resources (both in terms of financial support and an incredible technology team) so we quickly got comfortable with the risk profile. At the end of the day, you can’t make this kind of step forward without taking on some level of risk and our faith in their product has already been rewarded.

OGAC: How does Flexjet charge customers for connectivity?

Heublein: Flexjet does not charge aircraft owners or their guests for connectivity. Our mission is to provide an elite travel experience, and with that comes the ability to seamlessly access your devices onboard the aircraft and in-flight. With Starlink, private jet passengers will experience exceptional, high-speed internet connectivity from the moment they step on board the aircraft until the time they land, ensuring the reliability and overall superior performance that is on par with the best boardroom experience.

OGAC: What advice would you give to an owner looking to connect their aircraft?

Heublein: The advice is pretty simple - if you’ve made a financial decision to utilise business aviation, the minimal incremental cost associated with this technology is almost insignificant when you consider the overall ROI and impact it has on your ability to stay productive in flight. Honestly, I don’t know why you would own a business jet and not install this immediately.

Case study: ‘Clients highlight it as a significant enhancement’

Opul Jets, which operates from London, Dubai, Mumbai and the Isle of Man installed Starlink on its owned Bombardier Global Express XRS. Harry Ackerman, Group CEO, Opul Jets is one of the satellite company’s first European customers.

OGAC: How did you decide on Starlink?

Ackerman: We chose SpaceX's Starlink due to its high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity, which is crucial for our clients who require reliable and fast internet access during their flights. Starlink's advanced satellite technology system utilises a constellation of LEO satellites, which in turn ensures minimal latency and consistent high-speed connections. This is particularly important for maintaining seamless communications, video conferencing and data transfer during flights.

Additionally, Starlink's global coverage allows our clients to stay connected even in remote or underserved areas, enhancing their travel experience and ensuring uninterrupted connectivity regardless of geographical location.

OGAC: Did you deal directly with Starlink or more with the installer?

Ackerman: We initially contacted Starlink to understand the technical specifications and capabilities of their service. This direct engagement allowed us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the system's performance metrics, hardware requirements, and integration protocols.

However, for the actual integration and installation process on our Global XRS, we partnered with ACC Columbia Jet Service, a Bombardier MRO and specialist in aircraft connectivity solutions based in Germany. ACC Columbia provided the necessary expertise in retrofitting the Starlink system to our aircraft, ensuring seamless implementation and optimal performance. Their experience in aviation-specific installations was instrumental in overcoming any technical challenges and aligning the system with operational standards. By combining the work with a 60-month inspection, the cost of installation and downtime was kept to a minimum.

OGAC: Were you concerned about being an early customer?

Ackerman: As an early adopter, we did have some concerns regarding the stability and reliability of the service, but with research, conversations with the team at Starlink and due diligence, we were assured that the performance would meet our expectations.

Despite the inherent uncertainties of adopting new technology, we were confident in Starlink's robust engineering and innovative approach. Being at the forefront of technology adoption also aligns with our commitment to providing the best possible services to our clients. Our proactive stance in embracing cutting-edge solutions reflects our dedication to enhancing the overall customer experience through superior connectivity.

OGAC: How easy was the installation?

Ackerman: There were some challenges typical of retrofitting technology into existing aircraft systems, such as ensuring compatibility with our avionics and maintaining compliance with aviation safety standards. ACC Columbia's technical team worked closely with Starlink to address any issues, including the structural integration of satellite antennas and the configuration of onboard network systems. The collaborative effort facilitated a smooth installation process, minimising disruptions to our operations and ensuring the system was operational within a short timeframe.

We required a minor modification to the Starlink European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Supplemental Type Certificate, which was done without any issues.

Official Guide to Aircraft Connectivity 2025