Starlink: Game-Changing Connectivity for Aircraft Owners

Insights from Mike Peterson, Pentastar Avionics Sales and Engineering Manager

Pentastar recently announced that we had officially become a Starlink dealer, representing a milestone moment in our connectivity capabilities. For aircraft owners, access to the revolutionary SpaceX satellite service is a potential game-changer: in many cases, it will translate into dramatically increased performance and an in-flight experience where high-speed, low-latency broadband internet connection is readily available—anywhere and everywhere they fly.

Starlink is satellite-based system that promises internet speeds of up to 220 Mbps for high-speed in-flight internet. No other company or service is comparable to the speeds and latency that Starlink is delivering. Even in the fast-evolving world of in-flight connectivity solutions, this represents a dramatic leap forward, with speeds that are twice as fast (or more) than the competition. Starlink is supported by a robust network of well over 6,000 low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites

As Pentastar’s Avionics Sales and Engineering Manager, I am always looking to identify and test promising new products and services. I didn’t hesitate when presented with an opportunity to experience Starlink’s much-anticipated rollout firsthand. My experience—and the experience of other professionals on the test flight—was extraordinarily impressive. The decreased latency means there is no detectable delay (such as you might find on an international call, for example) and that a large group of users could all utilize a wide range of bandwidth-hogging applications simultaneously with no diminished performance. For flyers, that means things like FaceTime calls, Zoom meetings, streaming video, seamless web browsing, and real-time gaming are all now possible, even for users who may prefer to use a virtual private network (VPN). Efficient file sharing and downloads are a breeze. The bottom line is that this is seamless, in-transit high-speed internet, capable of easily accommodating multitasking and multiple users—with minimal geographic limitations. Whether it’s a CEO who needs to stay connected for an important meeting or a family member watching Netflix on their iPad, the experience is now comparable to what we expect on the ground. For aviation connectivity, that’s a landmark moment.

While Pentastar would do comprehensive follow-up research as part of our due diligence process, it was already clear that Starlink is by far the fastest and most reliable system we’ve ever experienced. As an authorized dealer for Starlink, our in-house certified technicians will manage professional installations, outfitting each aircraft with optimal hardware configurations for exceptional connectivity and offering extensive ongoing support to leverage Starlink’s services benefits. That professional relationship means that Pentastar not only receives the build kits—including wiring and structural components—assembled by a Starlink dealer, but we have access to all the relevant certification data and will be able to install Starlink systems on an increasingly wide spectrum of aircraft models.

Our new Starlink installation and service capabilities are consistent with a longstanding commitment from Pentastar to provide aircraft owners and charter clients with the best possible experience. Our avionics team remains focused on the future of in-flight connectivity, offering the most complex and technologically advanced solutions on the market. While Starlink is relatively new, that commitment is over six decades old. It’s why Pentastar is the most awarded FBO in the Americas and has been ranked number one by Aviation International News (AIN) for four consecutive years.

Pentastar is offering Starlink installation and services packages at a competitive price point, setting a standard that other companies are working hard to compete with, and it’s already clear that there is interest and enthusiasm from our aircraft owners. Nonetheless, for all the buzz around Starlink, the increase in connectivity is not something that everyone needs. For many owners and flyers, the ability to send an email or receive texts is more than enough. With that in mind, Pentastar has always worked diligently to provide our owners with the widest possible range of connectivity solutions. We make it a point to listen and to work with every owner to provide a customized level of service and a solution that meets their needs and fits within their budget. That said, there is no question that state-of-the-art solutions like Starlink are an exciting new tool in the toolbox as we work to continually advance the travel experience for our clients.