United Shuts Down Starlink Wi-Fi Due To Pilot Radio Interference

United Shuts Down Starlink Wi-Fi Due To Pilot Radio Interference

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United Airlines recently began the process of installing Starlink Wi-Fi throughout its fleet, starting with United Express aircraft. Unfortunately this project has hit a minor roadblock, which will have implications for some passengers over the coming weeks, as reported by Zach Griff.

So far, United has installed Starlink Wi-Fi on roughly two dozen Embraer E175s, operated by United’s regional subsidiaries. However, the service on many of those jets has been turned off in recent days, meaning those flights have been operating without internet connectivity.

What’s the reason? Several pilots have reported radio interference between the VHF antennas that pilots use to communicate, and the Starlink antennas. Specifically, on aircraft equipped with Starlink, pilots have experienced static on the radio after completing radio transmissions. As a result, the service has been turned off temporarily, pending a fix.

In a statement, United claims that this kind of issue isn’t uncommon for newly installed Wi-Fi services:

“Starlink is now installed on about two dozen United regional aircraft. United and Starlink teams are working together to address a small number of reports of static interference during the operation of the Wi-Fi system, which is fairly common with any new airline Wi-Fi provider. We expect the service to be back up and running on these aircraft soon.”

United recently began offering Starlink Wi-Fi

United and Starlink have already figured out a solution to address the radio interference problem, and they’re working on rolling out this fix across the aircraft that are impacted. So far, roughly one-third of the two dozen jets have received the fix, meaning they’re again flying with Starlink Wi-Fi.

However, it’ll take some time for the remaining jets to receive the fix. The reason is because planes aren’t being taken out of service to get these fixes, so that the airline doesn’t have to cancel flights. Instead, United will wait until those planes would naturally rotate through regularly scheduled maintenance, and then make the updates.

The expectation is that all the impacted planes will get the fix within the next few weeks, but that timeline could also slip. United claims that this new issue won’t impact the pace of the carrier’s Starlink Wi-Fi rollout, and the airline still plans to have all of its two-cabin United Express jets fitted with Wi-Fi by the end of the 2025.

It’ll be a few weeks before all planes get the fix

Bottom line

United Airlines’ Starlink Wi-Fi installation has hit a minor roadblock, due to the Starlink antennas interfering with the antennas used for pilot communication. Fortunately United and Starlink have identified a fix, which will be installed on all impacted jets in the coming weeks.

While the fix is relatively straightforward, the reason it’s taking some time is because United doesn’t want to take jets out of service, and will instead make these changes as planes go through regularly scheduled maintenance.

What do you make of United’s Starlink Wi-Fi issue?

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  1. ted poco Guest

    Since United's CEO is a big Trump supporter, I think this is a way of him getting a favor from the government.

    1. Komma Guest

      Sounds like your TDS is affecting all aspects of your life.

      If you can think of a faster and cheaper solution on planes, please let us all know and the airlines so they can install it.

  2. AeroB13a Guest

    Systems interoperability can be a problem in any highly technical application. It is how both companies approach the challenge and then effect the solution which will be interesting to observe.

  3. Arps Diamond

    Starlink helped United, and us passengers, realize the dream of fast and free wifi on a plane.

    United has no choice but to project confidence (i.e. bluff) that a fix is quick and simple. Is it really? To know requires a background in engineering which I lack.

    I would be remiss not to lament that Starlink's ownership by Elon Musk is a huge disappointment. The embarrassment of Elon to the United States is second only...

    Starlink helped United, and us passengers, realize the dream of fast and free wifi on a plane.

    United has no choice but to project confidence (i.e. bluff) that a fix is quick and simple. Is it really? To know requires a background in engineering which I lack.

    I would be remiss not to lament that Starlink's ownership by Elon Musk is a huge disappointment. The embarrassment of Elon to the United States is second only to that of the embarrassment of our president.

    Having dealt with some really low class Americans this week, however, I can fully understand how our country fell into this state.

    1. David Guest

      You're kind of all over the road there.

      Yes sometimes these are easy fixes and others can be more of a bitch to nail down. They'll get it worked out.

    2. AeroB13a Guest

      Apes, is a more apt description for an Arps wannabe …..

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Arps Diamond

Starlink helped United, and us passengers, realize the dream of fast and free wifi on a plane. United has no choice but to project confidence (i.e. bluff) that a fix is quick and simple. Is it really? To know requires a background in engineering which I lack. I would be remiss not to lament that Starlink's ownership by Elon Musk is a huge disappointment. The embarrassment of Elon to the United States is second only to that of the embarrassment of our president. Having dealt with some really low class Americans this week, however, I can fully understand how our country fell into this state.

3
ted poco Guest

Since United's CEO is a big Trump supporter, I think this is a way of him getting a favor from the government.

1
AeroB13a Guest

Apes, is a more apt description for an Arps wannabe …..

1
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