Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, revealed on Thursday that Starlink terminals are being urgently deployed to restore critical air traffic control communications in the United States.
Musk shared his concern on the social media platform X, stating, “The Verizon communication system to air traffic control is breaking down very rapidly. The FAA assessment is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk.”
This action follows a report from The Washington Post on Wednesday, which indicated that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is on the verge of canceling its $2.4 billion contract with Verizon, intended to upgrade the communication system, and instead, potentially awarding the contract to Elon Musk’s Starlink.
According to several government workers, contractors, and individuals familiar with the matter, Starlink equipment has already been set up in FAA facilities, a step linked to a SpaceX contract in progress.
On Monday, Musk wrote on X, “The Verizon system is not working and so is putting air travelers at serious risk.”
The rise of Starlink as a possible alternative to Verizon’s troubled system highlights significant conflicts of interest. Musk holds roles as both a prominent business leader and a former senior adviser to President Donald Trump, raising questions about his influence in securing such contracts for his companies. However, it remains unclear how much Musk’s position may have played in SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, potentially winning this opportunity.
{Matzav.com}