Summary

The FAA is reportedly set to cancel a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon to modernize air traffic control communications and instead award it to Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Musk has publicly criticized Verizon’s system as failing, though without evidence. SpaceX employees have been embedded within the FAA, and some now have agency email addresses.

The move raises concerns about favoritism and conflicts of interest, especially as Musk’s companies have received $38 billion in government funding.

The contract transfer has not followed standard procedures, prompting resistance from senior FAA officials.

  • Billiam@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Musk doesn’t care anymore if he tanks Tesla, as long as he’s getting government handouts.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Some might think this is corruption, but I assure you, this was the best offer we could find, because all the others got lost somehow?

  • dohpaz42@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I hope Verizon sues Musk, Starlink, and the DOGE into oblivion. Even if they don’t have a chance of winning, they should be able to make it more difficult to do anything. Airlines should sue too due to the preventable crashes that occurred recently. In fact, I hope every company affected by DOGE’s policies sues.

    They might not be able to get a fair trial, but they could potentially bog the system down in red tape.

    Give ‘em Hell!

  • Snapz@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    This is handing the button that controls your life over to elon… He had them strategically turn off Ukraine’s internet at a critical moment to benefit putin… What do you think he’s going to do when Jasmine Crockett’s plane in on final approach to land back in her district after having the “fuck off, elon” press conference?

  • reddig33@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    An overhaul from the man who sells “full self driving”. What could possibly go wrong? 🙄

  • Majorllama@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I have no love for Verizon but using starlink is the definition of a conflict of interest. I mean so has everything else he’s been doing but this one is especially egregious.

  • 800XL@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    We call this a conflict of interest. Fuck Musk. Guess whose planes will never show up in flight logs so he, Trump, and all of Putin’s other stooges can fly around and make deals with no bother.

  • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I would sure love to see the proof that “FAA assessment is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk.” from a wholly independent authority.

    A note written on a paper napkin won’t do.

  • Boddhisatva@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    “This is your captain speaking. I’m afraid we’re going to be a little bit delayed here because we’ve lost connection to the Starlink satellites that provide our communication. We’ll be pushing back from the gate just as soon as the weather clears a bit.”