Flexjet has begun offering SpaceX Starlink inflight Wi-Fi, becoming the launch business aviation user of the satellite-based connectivity service. The rollout follows the issuance of an FAA supplemental type certificate obtained through Flexjet’s engineering arm, Nextant Aerospace, and Starlink for installation on a Gulfstream G650. Once installation work is completed on its Gulfstreams, plans call for building on that with approvals across the Flexjet fleet.
The introduction of the service followed an 18-month process that also included a technology evaluation by Flexjet. “We are committed to providing the finest possible travel experience for our owners and this includes high-quality internet access from takeoff to arrival,” said Jay Heublein, who leads Flexjet’s global maintenance and product division. “Through Starlink, SpaceX has created the most significant technology advancement for private jet travel that we’ve seen in the last two decades.”
Starlink operates more than 4,500 low-earth-orbit satellites that offer global internet access to remote and rural locations, as well as for aviation and maritime users. Designed to address reliability issues with legacy Wi-Fi systems, Starlink uses a phased-array antenna that has no moving parts and eliminates environmental variances that can impair performance, Flexjet said. The operator also noted that with Starlink, passengers can access the Internet as soon as they board rather than waiting until reaching altitude.