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3mo ago

FAA Tests Starlink for Air Traffic Modernization, Raising Conflict of Interest Concerns

Elon Musk’s Starlink terminals are being tested to address FAA communication issues, potentially impacting Verizon's $2 billion contract.

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a payload of 23 Starlink internet satellites soars into space after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base earlier this month.
FILE - A Federal Aviation Administration sign hangs in the tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, March 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Elon Musk waves to the crowd as he holds a chainsaw after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Overview

  • The FAA is testing Starlink satellite internet terminals at three locations, including Atlantic City, NJ, and two sites in Alaska, to improve aviation communication in remote areas.
  • The testing follows concerns about the reliability of Verizon's $2 billion FAA contract, which was awarded in 2023 to modernize the agency's IT infrastructure.
  • Critics have raised conflict of interest concerns, as Elon Musk, who oversees Starlink, also advises the Trump administration and leads the Department of Government Efficiency, which has cut FAA staff.
  • The FAA plans to deploy 4,000 Starlink terminals over the next 12 to 18 months, though the impact on Verizon’s existing contract remains unclear.
  • The initiative comes after recent aviation safety incidents and growing scrutiny over Musk’s dual roles in government restructuring and his business dealings.