A proposal for digital packet data services for a commercial aviation communication system

Abstract

We propose a scheme for providing digital packet data services in an existing aviation communication system. The system, currently in operation in the continental United States, offers basic telephony services to airborne subscribers-two way voice, fax and data. The mobiles are mounted on commercial aircraft and communicate with the terrestrial network using digital phase modulated radio communication in the 840 MHz-890 MHz range. The system is thus cheaper and less power-intensive than satellite based systems, and easy to install, maintain, operate and upgrade. The scheme we propose would provide the full gamut of packet data services to this system. This would include the facility of channel sharing and bandwidth allocation according to load, seamless handovers between cells and transparent access to the Internet and the terrestrial CDPD network. The goal is to utilize the available limited traffic carrying capacity of the system to the maximum without compromising on service quality.