Flight Interruptions Due to Starlink Disruptions - Embraer E175 Aircraft Experiencing Radio Interference Prompting Shutdowns on United Regional Planes
Buckle Up, Folks! United Airliner's Starlink Issues Rear Their Ugly Head
In an unexpected twist, United Airlines has given Starlink service the ol' heave-ho on its United Express regional planes due to some pesky radio interference. According to the know-it-all gurus over at The Points Guy, United took this leap of faith out of sheer caution, a decision they've confirmed.
It seems that United has installed Starlink on practically a dozen Embraer E175 aircraft, with plans to outfit more than 40 regional jets each month, starting from May, and continuing through the end of 2025[1]. The installation process takes around 8 hours per aircraft, and if the schedule stays on track, expect Starlink to be on every plane in the fleet by the end of the year.
The catch? Those brave E175 planes carrying Starlink have been operating offline lately, triggering concerns of radio interference affecting VHF antennas pilots use for chit-chatting with air traffic controllers[2]. Case in point, a flight that the experts at Tom's Hardware hopped aboard on Monday, June 9, was among the silent bunch.
United has breaked the ice on the matter, stating to The Points Guy that they, alongside the Starlink crew, are working hard to tackle this little glitch. Apparently, static interference during Wi-Fi operation is nothing new with fresh airline Wi-Fi providers, and United believes the service will be back up and humming along soon.
The good news? United and Starlink have already nailed a solution and are distributing it to the affected aircraft. A third of the planes have already received the necessary update, with the rest of the gang waiting for their turn during routine maintenance slots, ensuring nary a flight gets cancelled due to this predicament. US Airways hopes to have Starlink alive and kickin' on all affected planes "over the next few weeks."
Do Saint Peter's fingers keep itching to give United a call, asking 'What in the Sam Hill is going on?' Fear not, as they're ploughing ahead with the planned rollout, unscathed by this minor setback.
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[1] [https://www.tomshardware.com/news/united-airlines-starlink-internet-on-planes][2] [https://www.tomsguide.com/us/united-airlines-starlink-wi-fi,review-62476.html][3] Society of American Flight Engineers: Starlink for Aviation - Exploration and Testing
As United Airlines and SpaceX's Starlink service grapple with radio interference issues, the airliner is actively collaborating with the technology titans to rectify the problem. United's ambitious plan to install Starlink on over 40 regional jets each month remains undeterred, with an estimated completion by the end of 2025.
