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- Airborne Internet is a concept that overlays network theory and principles into the transportation realm. The system goal is to establish information connectivity. To reach that goal, the system must create a scalable, general purpose, multi-application data channel for people in transit. Airborne Internet, the new science of bringing network connectivity to aircraft, is a technology that has the potential to integrate and support a myriad of activities, in both the cockpit and cabin environments. The original concept proposed in 1999 suggested an open system with a scalable architecture: one that is a general purpose, multi-application data channel, for all communications, navigation and surveillance exchanges. Airborne Internet sees all the participating aircraft acting as air-to-air relays, each operating in a peer-to-peer relationship with other aircraft, and supporting the network, even if an aircraft is not consuming bandwidth for its own purposes. Every aircraft is a node on the network. Airborne Internet for the cockpit offers many possibilities: digital air traffic communications that enables the pilot to have better access to digital information sources, air transport operations and administration, enhanced weather information, 4-dimensional trajectory flight plan management from the air traffic control system, safety and security. Safety will be enhanced when the flight crew is better able to access information sources faster than before. Digital verification techniques can be employed to ensure the security of the information. Airborne Internet also provides the potential to be used by the Federal Air Marshals, airline operations, and flight crew for security information purposes. Aircraft maintenance functionality can use the network to provide important status information to the air carrier. Airborne Internet for the cabin offers communications for passengers, in-flight entertainment, and other non-critical information sources. The end-state Airborne Internet system is envisioned as a network of ground stations, specially equipped aircraft, satellites and unmanned aircraft systems to carry two-way broadband communications traffic to aircraft for use by passengers, operators and air traffic control centers. It has the potential to change how aircraft are monitored and tracked by air traffic control systems, and how they exchange information with and about other aircraft (peer-to-peer). Critical information such as weather, turbulence, and landing conditions can be exchanged, as well as the distance between aircraft and the ground. This information becomes even more critical for aircraft that are beyond line of sight range. There would also be the capability to allow aircraft passengers to go online to check their e-mails, pay bills and surf the web without interference with radio and aircraft control signals. (en)
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