Report: FAA Testing Starlink to Upgrade Air Traffic Control System

Starlink satellite internet terminals are currently being tested as part of an effort to speed up the modernization of the technology that powers the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) national airspace system.

Bloomberg reported that Elon Musk approved the shipment of 4,000 Starlink terminals to the FAA last week. One terminal has already been installed at the FAA’s air traffic control technology lab in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as part of the testing process

Sources familiar with the matter told the outlet that the program is expected to be fully operational within the next 12 months. The initiative will reportedly be called TDM-X.

An FAA spokesperson confirmed to the outlet that the agency is currently testing one Starlink terminal in Atlantic City and two more in Alaska. The representative noted that Starlink could help restore communication links and improve weather tracking, particularly in remote areas like Alaska.

In 2023, Verizon was awarded a $2 billion contract to upgrade the FAA’s critical infrastructure. However, Elon Musk criticized the project in a post on X, stating,

“The Verizon system is not working and so is putting air travelers at serious risk.”

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In an emailed statement to the outlet, after Starlink satellite a Verizon spokesperson said,

“Protecting Americans who rely on a safe and functioning air traffic control system is more important than ever. Our enhancements will help make that happen.”

The FAA’s air traffic control system oversees 45,000 flights daily, transporting nearly 3 million passengers across the U.S. Efforts to modernize the agency’s aging network have gained renewed attention following a fatal midair collision in January between a regional jet and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport..