Applications and challenges for airborne ad-hoc communication networks in ORP airspaces using the L-band

Kurzfassung

Data communication is an essential part of today’s air traffic operations, enabling more flexible routing of aircraft leading to increased airspace capacity. While older generations of data link technology approach their technological limits, new technologies and approaches are being developed. Beside satellite communication and high frequency radio, one approach to enable data communication in remote, polar and oceanic airspaces such as the North Atlantic, is the establishment of aeronautical ad-hoc networks (AANETs). Such networks are built up by direct data links between the aircraft which are acting as communication nodes, while ground connectivity is provided through dedicated gateway aircraft that are connected to ground stations or satellites. The establishment of AANETs enables new procedures and applications and provides a backup to existing communication infrastructure, resulting in technological and operational requirements and constraints. As the AANET performance is strongly influenced by the current air traffic situation, it is essential to understand these requirements in order to properly design the systems. In our work we analyze applications enabled by AANETs and identify challenges for the design and development of the communication technology.