Page 27 - ITU-T Focus Group on Aviation Applications of Cloud Computing for Flight Data Monitoring - Avionics and Aviation Communications Systems

ITU-T Focus Group on Aviation Applications of Cloud Computing for Flight Data Monitoring
Avionics and Aviation Communications Systems

11.1.2.2 Other Data link systems used for flight deck applications
There are several systems which are designed for flight deck and avionics data communications that utilize
Iridium that are not linked with the ACARS system. These include the following systems:

i) Panasonic (formerly Airdat) FlightLink weather data link system;
ii) STAR Navigation's in-flight safety monitoring system (Star-ISMS);
iii) FLYHT's automated flight information and reporting system (AFIRS).

11.1.3 On-board data link systems infrastructure – PIES domain/cabin systems

Over the last five years, there has been more and more broadband data link systems installed in the cabin
on many airlines aircraft. In the USA, there have been a large number of air-to-ground (ATG) cellular systems
installed by GoGo. Elsewhere in the world, airlines have installed SITA OnAir and Aeromobile systems which
mostly use Inmarsat SwiftBroadband to bring connectivity to passengers on a global basis. Panasonic, Global
Eagle Entertainment (formerly Row44) and Thales (formerly LiveTV) have collectively installed Ku and Ka-band
SatCom systems on a significant numbers of aircraft.

11.1.4 Data rates

The data rates of the cabin broadband links are high compared to flight deck ACARS links (see Appendix 3):

i) SwiftBroadband data link supports up to 432 kbps per channel;
ii) GoGo's ATG-3 can provide 1.8 Mbps off the aircraft and 3.1 Mbps to the aircraft;

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