With the recent plane catastrophes in the news, cyber breaches, and the 2023 film “Leave the World Behind”. Travelers are skeptical about boarding flights from any airline. Over the past decade, there have been more than 1,100 civil aviation accidents, with nonmilitary flights using U.S.-registered aircraft experiencing incidents each year, resulting in over 300 fatalities annually. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday that modernizing the aging U.S. air traffic control system will require a combination of technologies and service providers. As part of this initiative, the agency is currently testing Starlink satellite systems at several FAA facilities. The discussion around Starlink’s involvement intensified as some Democrats suggested that the FAA could potentially cancel a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon and reallocate it to Elon Musk’s Starlink unit. Musk has been vocal in his criticism of the FAA’s current telecom infrastructure.
No Final Decision on Verizon Contract Yet
The FAA reaffirmed that no decision has been made regarding the Verizon contract. However, sources informed Reuters last week that the agency is actively reviewing the agreement. At a House hearing on Tuesday, lawmakers criticized the outdated air traffic control system. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has urged the FAA to take immediate action, warning that one-third of these systems are unsustainable and in need of urgent upgrades.
Starlink Testing in Alaska, Oklahoma City, and Atlantic City
Last week, the FAA disclosed that it is testing three Starlink terminals at a government facility in Alaska. This initiative aims to enhance stable access to weather data for pilots and FAA flight service stations. Additionally, the FAA is also assessing Starlink and other wireless communication technologies at its facilities in Oklahoma City and Atlantic City. “There are terminals, like those in Alaska, where accessing fiber is challenging. In such cases, Starlink can be useful. However, we also need to ensure robust fiber-connected systems are in place,” Sean Duffy emphasized, who is the Transportation Secretary.