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Flexjet collaborated with satellite internet provider Starlink to provide aircraft owners with in-flight WiFi access. In an industry first, Flexjet will provide jet travelers with fast, reliable access to the internet and enable customers to conduct voice and video calls, stream video and internet activities that require high-speed capabilities. This is the culmination of an 18-month process that included an industry-wide technology evaluation and a close collaboration with Flexjet, Nextant Aerospace and Starlink.
"We are committed to providing the finest possible travel experience for our Owners and this includes high-quality internet access from takeoff to arrival," said Jay Heublein, leader of the Flexjet Global Maintenance and Product Division. "Through Starlink, SpaceX has created the most significant technology advancement for private jet travel that we've seen in the last 2 decades. Reliable connectivity is vital to our Owners and for the first time, the technology exists to deliver on this expectation."
Starlink is engineered by SpaceX and operates over 4,500 satellites in low-Earth orbit to provide internet access on a global scale. These satellites bring internet access to extremely rural or remote locations, as well as to aviation and maritime users.RELATED STORY:JSX becomes first air carrier to offer SpaceX Starlink inflight WiFi
"As the first global business jet operator to adopt Starlink, Flexjet is leading the way in bringing a truly reliable high-speed internet solution to its aircraft owners," said Chad Gibbs, SpaceX's Vice President of Starlink Business Operations. "Our focus from day one was to solve for the shortcomings of existing in-flight technology and ensure that Flexjet could offer a seamless connectivity solution from ground to flight and back."
The FAA certified the Starlink technology for use in Flexjet's Gulfstream G650s. Once the antenna installation work on the Gulfstream fleet is complete, the work would begin to certify and install the technology in Flexjet's fleet of super-mid, mid and light jet fleets, including the Praetor 600 and Phenom 300. Starlink was designed to address reliability issues that often hinder legacy systems. The hardware has a phased array antenna without moving parts, thereby eliminating the susceptibility to environmental variances which can impact performance on older technology.
With the new technology installed on the aircraft, Flexjet passengers will have internet access as soon as they board the aircraft, rather than waiting until the aircraft reaches a specific altitude. Passengers will not lose access when the aircraft descends from cruising altitude, unlike other aviation internet providers. The consistency will ensure that business video calls and streaming movies will not be disrupted midflight or on the ground.
"Internet access is as indispensable to modern life as electric power, and providing seamless high-speed access is vital for a superior travel experience," Heublein said. "Flexjet is proud to have identified and adapted the most advanced technology to keep our aircraft Owners connected no matter where in the world they are."