Part 135 Pegasus Elite Aviation has worked alongside Van Nuys airport-based MRO Thornton Aviation to install Starlink on one of its Global 5000s, leading to an FAA STC.

Inflight connectivity is a must for business jet passengers. Whether communicating with colleagues or streaming a movie to relax, travellers want a seamless connected experience. For a Global 5000 operated by Pegasus Elite Aviation, this meant installing the Space X Starlink system. A first, Thornton Aviation also performed the aircraft's 60-month maintenance inspection during the downtime.

“Pegasus Elite Aviation now has the first Starlink-enabled Global 5000. The system can establish and sustain a high-speed internet connection in flight. The aircraft will be available for charter as of October 2024 via our website,” says Adam Stanley, deputy CEO of Pegasus Elite Aviation. “For us to be able to offer this upgrade, it was important to choose a services provider with proven avionics and maintenance capabilities. Experience with Starlink was a plus. We found all that with Thornton Aviation.”

Previously, Thornton Aviation performed the first Starlink installation on a Gulfstream 650, and the company has a second Global 5000 scheduled. It has also installed Starlink on a Bombardier Global Express, and it has several additional Starlink projects scheduled for a variety of aircraft over the next 90 days.

Pegasus Elite Aviation partnered with Starlink and Thornton Aviation to develop and install the system on the Global 5000. Starlink utilises the low earth orbit constellation of approximately 6,000 satellites, providing unprecedented worldwide coverage. The high-speed internet enables download speeds of over 200 megabits per second, allowing HD streaming, Zoom video calls and large file downloads in flight.

“Combined with the Global 5000's range of 5,200 nautical miles, Starlink's connectivity makes it a trip like no other,” adds Stanley.

“We have been steadily expanding our avionics and cabin connectivity offerings,” notes Vince Russo, Thornton Aviation director of avionics. “In the past six months we've performed more than 20 installation projects ranging from small cockpit USB upgrades to full blown cabin management systems. The fact that our proven avionics skills are matched by our proven maintenance skills makes us a great choice for operators looking to take maximum advantage of their downtime and accomplish several workscopes at once.”

An FAA certified repair station, Thornton Aviation offers aircraft maintenance and avionics services for nearly every business aircraft type including scheduled and AOG support. In recent years, the avionics team has grown to a dozen skilled technicians, and it has earned dealer authorisations from Honeywell, Collins, Garmin, Universal, Alto, Gogo, Viasat and Starlink.

“No matter what you fly or what cockpit and cabin solutions best fit your needs, we've got you covered,” concludes Russo.