Mitigation of log-on rush phenomenon in aeronautical satellite data communication

Abstract

Recently, satellite data communication using geostationary satellites has been introduced for oceanic air traffic control (ATC). Each aircraft needs to log on to a Ground Earth Station (GES) through a satellite before it starts data transmission and log off to finish the communication at the end of a flight. Several hundred aircraft use the link through a satellite at busy times. Once the link is disconnected due to a failure of a GES or satellite, hundreds of aircraft initiate access for re-logon to a GES almost simultaneously, and the link may be congested excessively. Many aircraft in flight are not able to complete re-logon for a long time, and the safety of those aircraft is greatly endangered. This paper describes the phenomenon of excessive link congestion due to log on sequence initiations by hundreds of aircraft in the event of a GES or satellite failure, then some methods to minimize the period for re-logon, and finally the effectiveness of those methods as demonstrated through a series of simulations.