Business Aviation News

Gulfstream Gains G650 Starlink STC Approval

Gulfstream Gains G650 Starlink STC Approval

The US Federal Aviation Administration has approved a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) application lodged by Gulfstream Aerospace to retrofit Starlink internet connectivity to its G650 & G650ER private jets.

Starlink is a wholly owned subsidiary of Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. Its internet connection options promise reliable high-speed connections all over the world, including low latency (the time it takes for a request from a device to be processed and sent back) and download speeds of up to 220 Mbps. The company’s website says that it offers a package for $10,000 per month, which includes ‘Global Unlimited Business Aviation Data’.

“Starlink is an offering that we know is important to operators,” said Derek Zimmerman, president, Gulfstream Customer Support. “Our team has invested extensive time and resources preparing for this certification, and we are well-positioned across our service network to provide a seamless installation. Having the capability to install this connectivity upgrade at our own facilities, in the hands of our trusted team of experts, is part of our ongoing commitment to our customers.”

Gulfstream says that it’s currently working on gaining STC’s for its current in production and upcoming aircraft, as well as its Gulfstream IV/V, and G450 & G550.

Starlink hit the news recently when Qatar Airways began introducing the connectivity to its fleet of commercial aircraft. To mark the occasion Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer recorded a video of himself making a video call to Elon Musk from on-board the aircraft during its inaugural flight from Doha to London.

Passengers also on board the aircraft noted that their internet connections were around 40 times faster than the current in-flight connectivity solutions.

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