Satellite Internet Comes to Beechcrafts with New Approval

AeroMech Incorporated announced its receipt of a Supplemental Type Certificate for the installation of Starlink high speed internet in the Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300 series aircraft.

That's great news for internet-hungry King Air operators, since the AeroMech FAA STC ODA covers 17 variants of the aircraft, from the original King Air 200 to the newfangled King Air 360s. AeroMech's subsidiary, AMI Aviation Services, is now conducting Starlink antenna installations for end users out of its facilities back East, or from a handful of remote teams. For those out West, AMI can provide the STC and PMA installation kits to any qualified Starlink installer or dealer. The Starlink Aviation System is a relatively quick affair to install, consisting of only an antenna, power supply, and router. With no ARINC needs, downtime is pretty limited for a bird that needs to be out there making money.

The end result? Internet connections with up to (and that's always the key, there, 'up to') 220 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up, with latency under 100 ms. That provides enough performance for live video feeds in-air, covered anywhere on the globe as long as it sits beneath the Starlink's expansive 6,000-strong satellite constellation. 

“When Starlink first approached AeroMech to assist with certifying Starlink on aircraft, we recognized this was a disruptive innovation in aviation,” said Anthony Wiederkehr, AeroMech’s COO. “We are proud to have the King Air as the first model we certified. With the diverse applications in which King Air aircraft are used, we are excited to see how operators worldwide will utilize Starlink’s groundbreaking capability.”

FMI: www.aeromechinc.com