SpaceX has signed up Duncan Aviation as a dealer for its Starlink low-earth-orbit satcom system. Duncan will complete the Starlink installations at its three full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah, as well as at its satellite location in Houston.
While there are only three supplemental type certificate (STC) approvals for Starlink—Gulfstream G650, Bombardier Global 6000/Express/XRS, and Embraer ERJ 135/145—engineering companies such as Nextant Aerospace and others are developing additional Starlink STCs. These will include the Challenger 300/350; Global 5000/5500/6500/7500; Gulfstream G550/G450/GIV/GV; Embraer Legacy 600/650, Praetor 500/600, and Phenom 300; and Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300, and Duncan Aviation will be able to complete the installations.
“We have strong interest from Gulfstream owner/operators with G450s and G550s who are awaiting the FAA’s approval of STCs to install Starlink on their aircraft, and we expect to sign them as soon as the ink dries,” said Duncan Aviation senior avionics sales rep Justin Vena.
With download speeds of 40 to 220 Mbps and upload speeds of eight to 25 Mbps and global connectivity, Starlink service prices start at $2,000 per month for 20 GB and $10,000 per month for global unlimited. Onboard hardware consists of the top-fuselage-mounted antenna, power supply, two wireless access points, and wiring.