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Matt Thurber

The G650/G650 appears to be next in line for supplemental type certification (STC) approval for installation of SpaceX’s Starlink satcom, according to a Gulfstream Aerospace maintenance and operations letter (ALL-MOL-23-0013) dated September 15. The letter references “Nextant/Starlink’s recent…[FAA] approval to install their connectivity solution via [STC] on G650/G650ER aircraft, with other models to follow.”
The FAA’s STC database does not yet list the Nextant STC. But given that SpaceX founder Elon Musk has Starlink installed on his G650, this STC seems like a logical step. The first Starlink STC was for the Embraer ERJ series and it was engineered by Aerospace Design &amp; Compliance of New Castle, Delaware.
The Gulfstream MOL points out to Gulfstream operators that the Starlink STC was developed by a third-party and thus is not supported by Gulfstream. “Since Gulfstream is not the STC holder,” it noted, “Gulfstream technical operations and engineering teams will not have the data or ability to support any repairs common to the area [fuselage structure with respect to the antenna installation] or that may arise with the STC upon installation or afterward.”
However, Gulfstream did explain in the MOL that it “will continue to work with Starlink to evaluate new technology, and we are committed to validating solutions on our aircraft when and if the data we gather supports the viability of the product.”&nbsp;

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Starlink Satellite Communications Installations Expected on Gulfstream G650

This would be the second STC for Starlink on an aircraft

Installation of SpaceX's Starlink satcom on the G650 is not supported by Gulfstream's technical operations because the STC was done by a third-party.

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Gulfstream G650/G650ER

Gulfstream