A system and method for autonomous distress tracking of an aircraft. An automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver is configured to transmit an automatic distress transmission. A system controller comprises a distress identifier that is configured to determine when the aircraft is in a distress condition. The system controller is configured to control the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver to transmit the automatic distress transmission in response to a determination that the aircraft is in the distress condition. The automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver and the system controller are contained within a housing attached to the aircraft on an outside of the aircraft.

A ground weather center may transmit information requests that carry at least one meteorological specific triggering command. An airborne system may translate the triggering command into detectable meteorological conditions and may arm the trigger(s) for specific weather sensors accordingly and downlink information upon the airborne system detects the triggering conditions. By using such a triggering command, the airborne system may be able transmit the same amount of valuable information with less bandwidth by reducing the number of redundant downlinked packets.

A system and method established and maintains precision relative position, navigation, and timing (PNT) across a network of at least four mutually connected mobile platforms. In embodiments, a key (e.g., advantaged, absolute positioning capable) node of the network determines its pressure altitude and inertial state relative to its platform reference frame and receives inertial state and pressure altitude data from each neighboring node (in exchange for its own) to estimate the relative position and orientation of each neighbor node in its platform frame. The key node performs ranging to each neighboring node, and the neighboring nodes additionally range between each other and exchange ranging data with the key node. By correcting position and orientation estimates via ranging data, the key node determines and maintains extended relative PNT (e.g., in GPS-denied areas), which relative PNT solution is distributed across all network nodes.

A radio resource management system in communication with multiple airport communication systems located at different airports is described. The radio resource management system receives a request to transfer data from an aircraft communication system within an aircraft to an airport communication system of the multiple ground communication systems. The radio resource management system determines an availability of radio resources at each airport communication system of the multiple airport communication systems based on the request. The radio resource management system selects an airport communication system from the multiple airport communication systems to transfer the data based on the determined availability of radio resources at the airport communication system. The radio resource management system reserves an amount of radio resources of the selected airport communication system of the multiple airport communication systems for the aircraft communication system to transfer the data.

A node (121-123) of a wireless communications network (120) and an aerial vehicle (110), such as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a drone, an aircraft, or a helicopter, comprising a communications module (111) are provided. The node is operative, in response to detecting that the aerial vehicle enters a pre-defined geographical region (221-227) within a coverage area of the wireless communications network, to transmit a cell broadcast message (126; 201-204) to the aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle is operative to receive the cell broadcast message from an access node (121) of the wireless communications network, and, in response thereto, correct its flight path (211-214) based on the received cell broadcast message. Preferably, the cell broadcast message comprises at least one, or a combination, of an instruction, a limitation, a restriction, a direction or a change thereof, a bearing or a change thereof, an altitude or a change thereof, an aerial vehicle type, and an aerial vehicle identity.

Control circuitry is configured to establish a first connection with one or more onboard passenger service devices using a network interface. The control circuitry is further configured to receive a set of system log data from the one or more onboard passenger service devices via the network interface and store one or more log signatures in non-volatile data storage media. The control circuitry is further configured to detect a first fault related to a first onboard passenger service device of the one or more onboard passenger service devices and store a first set of transmission rule data in the non-volatile data storage media. The control circuitry is further configured to filter the set of system log data, establish a second connection with a remote computing device using the network interface, and transmit a subset of system log data to the remote computing device via the network interface.

Systems and methods are provided for FAA-certified avionics devices to safely interface with non-certified mobile telecommunications devices before, during, and after flight. Data transmitted to the certified devices do not affect functionality of the certified device unless and until a user acknowledges and/or confirms the data on the certified device. Thus, the integrity of the certified device is maintained.

A system for locating an optimal location of a reception antenna that has an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a wireless internet service provider (WISP) tower configured for transmitting radio signals, and an antenna removably coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle, the antenna configured for receiving the radio signals. Further, the system has a processor for automatically flying the UAV to a height, for rotating the unmanned aerial vehicle at the height and detecting the radio signals from the at least one WISP tower as the UAV rotates to determine an optimal azimuth, and if the radio signals received are not conducive for the provision of wireless services at the height, the processor moves the UAV to different heights and rotates the UAV until radio signals received are conducive for the provision of wireless services thereby determining an optimal azimuth and location altitude range for a reception antenna.

Aspects described herein relate to a network for providing air-to-ground wireless communication in various cells. The network includes a first base station array, each base station of which includes a respective first antenna array defining a directional radiation pattern that is oriented in a first direction, wherein each base station of the first base station array is disposed spaced apart from another base station of the first base station array along the first direction by a first distance. The network also includes a similar second base station array where the second base station array extends substantially parallel to the first base station array and is spaced apart from the first base station array by a second distance to form continuous and at least partially overlapping cell coverage areas between respective base stations of the first and second base station arrays.

A data transmission system for a mobile platform comprises non-volatile data storage media, a network interface, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to establish a first connection with one or more onboard passenger service devices providing a passenger service at the mobile platform using the network interface. The control circuitry is further configured to receive a set of system log data from the one or more onboard passenger service devices via the network interface and store one or more log signatures in the non-volatile data storage media. The control circuitry is further configured to detect faults fault related to onboard passenger service devices, store transmission rule data that includes rules for filtering system log data, filter the set of system log data based on the transmission rule data, and transmit a subset of system log data to the remote computing device via the network interface.