The Federal Aviation Administration has agreed to use Elon Musk’s Starlink system to upgrade the information technology it uses to manage the U.S. airspace.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Musk’s space technology company, SpaceX. SpaceX is largely dependent on federal contracts, primarily from NASA, and Starlink satellite internet provides service to government and private customers around the world.
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The FAA had, in a post on X, disclosed that it is testing one Starlink terminal at its Atlantic City, New Jersey facility, and two in what it called “non-safety critical sites” in Alaska.
“Alaska has long had issues with reliable weather information for the aviation community,” it said in the post. “The 2024 FAA reauthorization required the FAA to fix telecommunications connections to fix those needs,” the post read.
After the fatal crash of a military helicopter and a regional jet in a final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that he had had discussions with Musk and that he was going to help the FAA “remake our airspace” and “do it quickly.”
While the FAA already had a contract with Verizon to upgrade information technology network, Musk said, “The Verizon system is not working and so is putting air travelers at serious risk.”
Verizon defended itself, saying “Verizon is bringing the nation’s most reliable network to the FAA at a time when critical infrastructure and technology enhancements are needed most.”
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While reports have confirmed FAA’s communications and computer systems are in the need of an upgrade, Starlink’s contract has also raised concerns over conflict of interest.
Musk, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, is currently heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and making deep cuts in federal government spending, including staffing cuts at the FAA. Critics have raised questions about potential conflict of interest conflicts of interest over his role overseeing government agencies that are supposed to be regulating his businesses.