Aviation Pilots Rally Against Starlink’s Quintupled Pricing for In-Flight Internet
General aviation pilots are voicing their discontent over Starlink’s recent overhaul of its in-motion internet service. The restructuring has effectively escalated costs by a staggering 500%, while simultaneously diminishing data allowances for the majority of aircraft operators.
SpaceX’s Starlink has imposed a 100 mph ground-speed limit on its standard Roam and Priority plans, compelling pilots to switch to new aviation-specific tiers. The Aviation 300MPH plan is now priced at $250 per month, offering a mere 20GB of data. This is a stark contrast to the previous plans which ranged from $50-$165 monthly. The Aviation 450MPH tier is even more costly, with a monthly fee of $1,000. Prior to these changes, pilots could utilize standard roaming plans for as little as $50-$65 monthly, with significantly more data included.
An online petition urging Starlink to reinstate roaming plans suitable for general aviation has already amassed over 4,000 signatures. AOPA Senior Vice President Jim Coon expressed his concern, stating, “A large number of general aviation operators across the globe have used Starlink as a safety-enhancing tool, and it is unfortunate that the company has now priced out the lion’s share of general aviation pilots.” It’s worth noting that many pilots had already invested $250 in Starlink Mini hardware and integrated the service into their safety operations for real-time weather and flight planning.