AIRTEC’s Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX platform recently supported the successful integration and issue of the first FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of a Starlink on Cessna Caravan series aircraft. Starlink is engineered and operated by SpaceX, delivering advanced, high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world. This is the first satellite internet option available for the Caravan, enabling the aircraft to transmit real-time data from virtually any location, providing a crucial situational awareness advantage during mission-critical operations.

AeroMech and AMI Aviation Services completed the parts design, engineering, and certification of the installation, while AIRTEC experts worked with a partner aviation company who provided local parts manufacturing to support the Starlink installation. Integration work and the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) certifications for the aircraft modifications and STC FAA airworthiness flights were performed at one of AIRTEC’s hangar facilities located at the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport in Maryland. This Caravan STC was initiated on request from Textron Aviation (reference this LinkedIn post by General Aviation Manufacturers Association).

The teamwork and collaboration on this project was inspired by a previous successful Starlink install (see Starlink on AIRTEC’s King Air B300)  which is now flying missions in the western U.S. to support real time fire mapping for prevention and control of wildfires. This project was successful due to the knowledge and expertise of our team and excellent working relationships with our partners. AIRTEC’s 208B Grand Caravan EX, equipped with this latest Starlink upgrade, is now part of our mission-ready fleet and is available for immediate deployment. This specially modified aircraft can support a wide range of military, scientific, and commercial critical missions including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that can transfer sensor data, video feeds, and imagery to command centers, border patrol operations, disaster response, maritime patrol, anti-piracy, climate research, and pipeline and infrastructure inspection in remote areas, to name a few.

As an industry leader in global airborne solutions, AIRTEC continues to provide expertise across critical mission areas and partners with some of the world’s leading aviation and technology organizations to provide full life cycle, integrated platform solutions and cutting-edge capabilities. AIRTEC specializes in supporting critical, urgent missions with rapid deployment and sustainment. We are proud to be a part of this mission collaboration and are committed to providing solutions to solve important, global challenges.

For more information on our Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX with Starlink or our other specially modified aircraft platforms and capabilities, contact us at BD@flyAIRTEC.com.