Elon Musk says upgrade FAA’s air traffic control system is failing and SpaceX needs take over Verizon’s contract

Elon Musk says upgrade FAA’s air traffic control system is failing and SpaceX needs take over Verizon’s contract

CNN
February 27, 2025

New York

CNN

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Elon Musk said Thursday that Verizon's efforts to provide a critically needed upgrade to the FAA's air traffic control system is failing. And he said that it is important that Starlink, a unit of his SpaceX satellite and rocket company, take over.

"The Verizon communication system to air traffic control is breaking down very rapidly," he said in a post on his social media platform X. "The FAA assessment is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk."

"The situation is extremely dire," Musk added.

It was not immediately clear what FAA risk assessment Musk was referring to in his post.

Verizon has a massive $2.4 billion contract to provide a long-sought upgrade to the FAA's communications system, known as the FAA Enterprise Network Services, or FENS, program. Asked about Musk's statement, the FAA issued a statement saying "Regarding the FENS program, no decisions have been made."

Earlier this week the FAA confirmed it is testing three Starlink terminals. Musk said those terminals were sent to the FAA at no cost to the agency or taxpayers at this time. He added that the shipment of terminals was done "on an emergency basis to restore air traffic control connectivity."

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a payload of 23 Starlink internet satellites soars into space after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base earlier this month.

Kevin Carter/Getty Images

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Verizon did not immediately responded to a request for comment. Earlier this week it issued a statement about the FAA testing the Starlink system, saying, "Verizon is bringing the nation's most reliable network to the FAA at a time when critical infrastructure and technology enhancements are needed most. We're at the beginning of a 15-year contract with the FAA that will help the agency modernize its technology."

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