Enabling In-Flight Connectivity with the new Generation of Electronically Steered Antennas

Abstract

In-flight communication (IFC) services offered to passengers and crew are of great importance to the air transport sector. The improvement of the satellite capacity with High Throughput Satellites (HTS) in GEO and the advent of MEO and LEO constellations will support the forecast growth of the IFC market. Antenna equipment for satellite communications will need to address multiple scenarios from G2G (Gate-to-Gate) to multi-operation under GEO-MEO-LEO systems. Under these conditions, antennas with the ability to track multiple satellites and having superior performance and reliability will play a key role. Electronically steered antennas (ESA) have emerged as a viable solution in response to these demands. The EU-funded LESAF project proposes an ESA solution of reduced size and greater efficiency for the next generation of in-flight connectivity services. This will be managed through the requirements definition, system analysis, technology assessment, prototyping and validation of ESAs. The project has successfully passed the first milestone corresponding to requirements consolidation, baseline architecture definition and candidate technology trade-offs. Multi-beam Electronically Steered Antennas, separated apertures for both transmission and reception, a flexible modular approach coupled with planar multilayer integration and an advanced beamformer design are the basis for the proposed concept. The following project phase will be focused on the design and validation of an antenna demonstrator aimed at proving the superior added value of ESAs technological solution for the aviation industry needs.