FAA Approves Starlink for Citation Latitude, Longitude

Engineering and certification specialist AeroMech has received FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for installation of SpaceX Starlink satcom systems in the Textron Aviation Cessna Citation Latitude and Longitude. The STCs are available for authorized Starlink dealers, including AeroMech subsidiary AMI Aviation Services, to schedule equipment purchases and installations.

More than 8,000 Starlink satellites in low-earth orbit (LEO) deliver global high-speed and low-latency broadband airborne connectivity from the ground to all altitudes. The Starlink electronically steered antenna is mounted on top of the airplane’s fuselage, and the installation includes a power supply and wireless access points. Starlink published speeds range from 40 to 220 Mbps for downloading and 8 to 25 Mbps for uploading. Service prices range from $2,000 per month for 20 GB, plus $100 per additional gigabyte, to $10,000 per month for unlimited data.

AeroMech has received six Starlink STCs during 2025, and AMI has completed more than 40 Starlink installations at its Orlando and Nashville facilities. Mobile teams are also available to complete installations at customer sites.

During an NBAA-BACE demo flight of Starlink from Henderson Executive Airport on October 14, eight passengers ran dozens of devices connected to the Starlink system in a Citation Sovereign+ owned by electrical contractor Jason Bryan. This reporter ran a laptop, iPad, and iPhone simultaneously, playing a movie on the iPad, downloading a large file on the laptop, and livestreaming the flight on Facebook with the iPhone. The connectivity was smooth and fast, with none of the passengers reporting any dropouts, and download speeds reached nearly 400 Mbps.

“I use the hell out of it,” Bryan said during the flight. “It works better than my Wi-Fi at my house.” He said he flies the Sovereign+ about 20 days a month for business. “It’s just a fast system, and doesn’t matter how many people are using it. I’ve never had a dead spot,” he said.

STCs developed by AeroMech are available for a variety of aircraft, including de Havilland Dash 8s, Beechcraft King Airs, the Citation X, Excel/XLS series, Sovereigns, Latitudes, and Longitudes, and Cessna Caravans.

“Starlink is redefining what flight crews and passengers expect from in-flight connectivity,” said AeroMech COO Anthony Wiederkehr. “Our team’s ability to deliver certified, turnkey Starlink solutions, quickly and reliably, underscores AeroMech’s commitment to advancing technology integration across the entire spectrum of business aviation.”