The United States' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has agreed to test SpaceX's Starlink internet tech to upgrade IT networks it uses to manage U.S. airspace.
The move is seen as a precursor for Starlink to be rolled out across all FAA communications platforms. If that happens, it would usurp a US$2 billion contract awarded to Verizon in 2023.
The FAA is already testing Starlink's use in Atlantic City, and at remote sites in Alaska and while no contract is yet awarded, Bloomberg reports that the agency plans to deploy the 4,000 Starlink dishes over the next 12-18 months.
Musk is not a fan of Verizon being tethered to implement its systems for the FAA. “The Verizon system is not working and so is putting air travelers at serious risk,” Musk posted on his social media site X earlier this week.
The FAA’s various computer and communications systems are badly in need of an upgrade, determining that 51 of its 138 systems are unsustainable - 17 of which are “especially concerning”.
That's backed up by through a December report by the Government Accountability Office entitled “Urgent FAA actions are needed to modernize aging systems".
The announcement raises fresh concerns about conflicts of interest for CEO Elon Musk, who, in his new government advisory role heading up the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has recommended funding cuts across a swathe of federal agencies - including the FAA.
The news comes as 21 DOGE tech staffers resigned on Tuesday saying they wouldn't help “dismantle critical public services”.
