With these two pioneering achievements —voice and data— Startical establishes itself as the first company capable of offering VHF voice and data communications from space, a decisive step to guarantee continuous coverage in oceanic and remote areas and optimize the future of air traffic management.
During a functional test conducted as part of the European ECHOES project over the Atlantic Ocean, an Air Europa aircraft established a data link with the Gran Canaria control center, achieving the first data link between the aircraft and the air traffic control system, following standard procedures. This success demonstrates in practice how satellite data communications can optimize daily air traffic operations by providing coverage in oceanic areas where conventional VHF radio systems lack sufficient range. In addition to Air Europa, airlines such as Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, Plus Ultra, and Vueling, among others, are also participating in the voice and data functional tests.
Startical's satellite data communications increase air traffic efficiency through the use of predefined messages, reducing controller workload and enhancing aviation safety by providing greater clarity and efficiency in communication. This translates into safer and more agile operations, while also opening the door to new services based on digital data exchange. Furthermore, it allows airlines to send and receive operational messages during flight, a more efficient and cost-effective solution compared to other conventional communication methods.
For air navigation service providers, this solution offers a global coverage layer, eliminating the costs of deploying and maintaining ground-based infrastructure.
Currently, not all transoceanic flights and flights in remote areas without VHF coverage have real-time voice and data communications. This limitation forces increased separation between aircraft and reduces airspace capacity. With the global coverage proposed by Startical, these limitations will disappear: aircraft will be able to operate over oceans and isolated regions with the same level of efficiency as in continental airspace. This will allow for greater safety, immediate emergency response, optimized traffic management, and the possibility of designing more direct and sustainable routes.
“With the transmission of voice and now also VHF data from space, Startical is ushering in a new era in global air traffic management, offering coverage where communication is currently limited,” said Juan Enrique González Laguna, CEO of Startical.
In June 2025, Startical successfully launched its second demonstrator satellite, IOD-2, with which it will continue functional testing in the South Atlantic corridor, in collaboration with air navigation service providers ENAIRE, NAV Portugal, ASA, ASECNA and DECEA.
Both demonstrator satellites and the functional tests have European backing through the ECHOES project, co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport) of the European Union, managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), with the support of the SESAR Joint Undertaking.
Beyond the technological demonstration, these tests will help define future international standards for airborne satellite communications. They also form the basis of Startical's future constellation, which will consist of more than 200 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide global coverage.
