Aviation Community Challenges Starlink Over Restructured Speed Limits
General aviation pilots are voicing strong opposition against Starlink’s recent restructuring of its in-motion internet service. The new structure caps the standard Roam and Priority plans at a mere 100 mph ground speed. This change effectively compels most aircraft to switch to the more costly aviation-specific tiers.
These modifications, enacted in early March 2026, necessitate pilots flying faster than 100 mph (87 knots) to upgrade to exclusive aviation plans. These are priced at $250 per month for the Aviation 300MPH plan and $1,000 per month for the Aviation 450MPH service. Both plans include only 20 GB of data, with overages billed at $10 and $50 per GB respectively. This represents a significant hike from the previous $50-$65 monthly roaming plans that many GA pilots depended on.
An online petition urging Starlink to restore affordable roaming options for general aviation has already amassed over 4,000 signatures. The petition emphatically states, “Starlink has recently made the disappointing decision to raise the cost of the plans serving general aviation by 5 times, while providing less than half of the data.”
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) submitted a formal letter to SpaceX on March 9, 2026. The letter expressed concern that the price increases “price out the majority of GA pilots” who had been using Starlink as a safety-enhancing tool for in-flight weather, communication, and situational awareness.
One pilot, in support of the petition, wrote, “For those of us in general aviation, Starlink has been nothing short of a revolution.” The pilot emphasized the service’s value for accessing real-time weather and airport safety information while airborne.
Source: Aero-News