SpaceX made its debut at this year’s NBAA-BACE with an exhibit displaying the airborne hardware and antenna for its Starlink Aviation service. During the first day of the show, charter operator Trans-Exec Private Jets announced that it is buying Starlink systems for its entire Gulfstream fleet.
SpaceX is offering customers the opportunity to buy the system for $150,000 and sign up for the service plan, which costs $25,000 per month. A Starlink marketing document notes, however, “Does not include [supplemental type certificate] & installation.”
While the Starlink personnel at the SpaceX booth were specifically instructed by their employer not to speak to the press, AIN has learned that the company is exploring the possibility of creating a dealer network for installation of the airborne hardware.
The only STCs now available for hardware installation are for the Embraer ERJ-135/145 and Gulfstream G650. According to the marketing document, STCs will be available “starting Q4 2023” for the GIV through G550 models and Bombardier Globals from the Express through 7500.
System speeds are download of 40 to 220 Mbps and upload 8 to 25 Mbps, with less than 99 ms latency. Starlink provides global coverage, and the service includes unlimited data with no service contract, a five-year hardware warranty, “dedicated Starlink support,” and “ongoing account and technical support.”
The hardware consists of an aero terminal, which is a phased-array electronically steered antenna that mounts on top of the fuselage, a power supply, and two wireless access points. According to the document, installation should take 10 to 14 days.
No other information was provided to this AIN reporter at the Starlink exhibit, due to the aforementioned ban on interacting with the press. AIN was unable to learn how SpaceX is dealing with Gulfstream Aerospace’s maintenance and operations letter (ALL-MOL-23-0013) dated September 15. This MOL points out to Gulfstream operators that the Starlink STC was developed by a third party and thus is not supported by Gulfstream.
“Since Gulfstream is not the STC holder,” it noted, “Gulfstream technical operations and engineering teams will not have the data or ability to support any repairs common to the area [fuselage structure with respect to the antenna installation] or that may arise with the STC upon installation or afterward.”
However, Gulfstream did explain in the MOL that it “will continue to work with Starlink to evaluate new technology, and we are committed to validating solutions on our aircraft when and if the data we gather supports the viability of the product.”