Aeronautical Communications Research Articles

ROAD value-based detection for GAE enhanced interference mitigation in LDACS.

The increasing volume of air traffic has placed significant stress on the current Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems, especially concerning the use of Very High Frequency (VHF) communication bands. As air traffic continues to grow, the limitations of the existing spectrum and infrastructure necessitate significant upgrades to ensure safety, efficiency, and capacity. The modernization of air traffic management systems has led to the development and introduction of the L-band Digital Aeronautical Communication System (LDACS), a new communication protocol. LDACS is designed to operate alongside existing L-band systems, ensuring compatibility with legacy users. The coexistence of LDACS with legacy systems poses significant interference challenges, as any disruption in data retrieval can critically impact flight safety. This paper proposes four potential interference mitigation techniques that LDACS can employ to detect and reduce the primary source of interference: Distance Measuring Equipment (DME). The authors introduce a prototype LDACS receiver that uses Rank-Ordered Absolute Differences (ROAD) statistics for effective interference sensing and employs GAE-enhanced pulse peak processors to mitigate Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) interference. Unlike the current GAE-enhanced pulse peak processors, the proposed methods use ROAD value-based detection for identifying DME interference. The performance of the proposed methods - ROAD GAE enhanced Pulse Peak Attenuator (RGPPA), ROAD GAE enhanced Pulse Peak Limiter (RGPPL), ROAD joint GAE enhanced Pulse Peak Attenuator (RJGPPA), and ROAD joint GAE enhanced Pulse Peak Limiter (RJGPPL) is analyzed across different threshold ROAD values to determine their efficacy in various signal conditions. Moreover, the performance of the proposed methods is compared to existing methods such as conventional pulse blanking and GAE-enhanced nonlinear devices, which use the amplitude of the received signal for the detection of interference. Furthermore, the proposed method's performance is compared to another method, ROAD PB, which uses ROAD statistics to detect DME interference and pulse blanking for DME mitigation. The comparative results show that the proposed methods outperformed conventional pulse blanking and ROADPB. Besides, these methods outperformed existing GAE-enhanced methods for their optimum threshold ROAD value.

Radiotelephony Untuk Personel Pangkalan TNI AU Atang Sendjaja

In the aviation industry, radiotelephony is the primary communication tool between pilots and personnel involved in aircraft operations. According to the Director General of Civil Aviation Regulation Number KP 038 of 2017, personnel providing apron management services are required to have specific licenses, such as Air Traffic Controllers, Aeronautical Communication Officers (ACO), or Apron Movement Controllers (AMC), with additional skills in radiotelephony. However, the personnel at the Atang Sendjaja Air Force Base currently do not meet the radiotelephony competency requirements. To perform services according to national and international standards, the use of radiotelephony is essential. To address this need, a training program was conducted as part of a community service initiative, aimed at equipping personnel with radiotelephony skills in line with applicable regulations. This training includes both theoretical and practical sessions conducted on-site, utilizing table-top exercise simulation methods. The outcome of this training indicates that the personnel at the Atang Sendjaja Air Force Base have acquired adequate skills to implement radiotelephony in their daily operational activities.

A Multimode Fusion-Based Aviation Communication System

This paper presents a new design for a multimode fusion communication system, aimed at tackling the complexities of modern aeronautical communication. The system integrates multiple communication technologies, such as ad hoc networking, 5G, BeiDou satellite, RTK positioning, and ADS-B broadcasting. This integration effectively solves the problem of increasing the size and weight of aviation communication equipment while also improving the efficiency and security of data communication. The study demonstrates that the implementation of this fusion communication system can lead to the development of more efficient and intelligent avionics equipment in the future, thereby offering robust technical support for flight safety.

Advanced Interference Mitigation Method Based on Joint Direction of Arrival Estimation and Adaptive Beamforming for L-Band Digital Aeronautical Communication System

The L-band digital aeronautical communication system (LDACS) is one of the candidate technologies for future broadband digital aeronautical communications, utilizing the unused L-band spectrum between distance measuring equipment (DME) channels. However, the higher signal power of DME complicates LDACS implementation. This paper proposes an advanced DME mitigation approach for the LDACS, integrating joint direction of arrival (DOA) estimation with adaptive beamforming techniques. The proposed method begins by exploiting the cyclostationary characteristics of signals, accurately obtaining the preliminary direction of the LDACS signal using the Cyclic-MUSIC method. Subsequent precise steering vectors (SVs) are selected through Capon spectrum search, followed by the reconstruction of the interference plus noise covariance matrix (INCM). Using the obtained SV and INCM, the weight vector is calculated and beamforming is performed. Simulation results validate that the proposed method not only accurately estimates the direction of LDACS signal but also efficiently mitigates DME interference, demonstrating a superior performance and reduced algorithmic complexity, even in scenarios with lower signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and the presence of DOA estimation errors. Additionally, the proposed method achieves a low bit error rate (BER), further validating its ability to ensure communication quality and enhance the reliability of LDACS.

Multiple-Antenna Aided Aeronautical Communications in Air-Ground Integrated Networks: Channel Estimation, Reliable Transmission, and Multiple Access

To provide seamless coverage during all flight phases, aeronautical communications systems (ACS) have to integrate space-based, air-based, as well as ground-based platforms to formulate aviation-oriented space-air-ground integrated networks (SAGINs). In continental areas, L-band aeronautical broadband communications (ABC) are gaining popularity for supporting air traffic management (ATM) modernization. However, L-band ABC faces the challenges of spectrum congestion and severe interference due to the legacy systems. To circumvent these, we propose a novel multiple-antenna aided L-band ABC paradigm to tackle the key issues of reliable and high-rate air-to-ground (A2G) transmissions. Specifically, we first introduce the development roadmap of the ABC. Furthermore, we discuss the peculiarities of the L-band ABC propagation environment and the distinctive challenges of the associated multiple-antenna techniques. To overcome these challenges, we propose an advanced multiple-antenna assisted L-band ABC paradigm from the perspective of channel estimation, reliable transmission, and multiple access. Finally, we shed light on the compelling research directions of the aviation component of SAGINs.

Survey of IP-based air-to-ground data link communication technologies

The main purpose of an air traffic management system is to provide air traffic services to an aircraft moving within the controlled airspace. Very high frequency (VHF) radio in continental regions, as well as high frequency (HF) radio and satellite communications in remote areas, are used today as the primary way of delivering air traffic services. The technical limitations and constraints associated with the current technology, such as line-of-sight requirement, vulnerability to interference, and limited coverage, cause degraded voice quality and discontinuity in service. At the same time, voice-based communication may affect flight safety due to poor language skills, call sign confusion, and failure to use standard phraseology. For this reason, text-based communication over a VHF data link (VDL) has been proposed as an alternative. However, it is predicted that VDL will be insufficient to support increasing air traffic and intensive data exchanges due to its lack of mobility support and limited resources to ensure service continuity. This paper surveys next-generation data link technologies based on the current state of the "industry standard" for aeronautical communication. These include Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communication System (AeroMACS), L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS), and Airborne New Advanced Satellite Techniques & Technologies in a System Integrated Approach (ANASTASIA). The paper also surveys IP-based text communication solutions over these next-generation data links. We analyze the efficiency of the proposed solutions with regard to service continuity and aeronautical application requirements. We conclude the survey by identifying open problems and future trends.

User scheduling for non-orthogonal multiple access-enabled 5G aeronautical mobile airport communications system

The recent concept of aeronautical mobile airport communications system with the 5th generation mobile communication technology (5G AeroMACS) for enhancing real-time and efficient flight information transmission has attracted wide attention from the civil aviation industry. In addition, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is also a promising solution to further improve the sum rate. However, the fundamental limit of the conventional 5G AeroMACS is that, the base station (BS) equipped with dozens of antennas cannot support more users than its number of antennas using the same time-frequency resources. To break this limit, for the first time, we investigate user scheduling policies for the integration of NOMA in 5G AeroMACS, i.e., 5G AeroMACS-NOMA, employing a half-duplex (HD) BS for serving multiple HD downlink users simultaneously. The two proposed user scheduling policies are obtained from the sub-optimal solution of mixed combinatorial non-convex optimization problems for the maximization of the achievable sum rate of the entire system. To mitigate the inter-beam interference (IBI), a user clustering algorithm based on the principle of maximizing the channel spatial correlation is designed, and an iterative power allocation algorithm is utilized for maximizing the achievable sum rate of the entire system. Furthermore, to mitigate the serious error propagation caused by the nature in NOMA, a scenario with user division is considered, and an user scheduling policy based on successive convex approximation is designed to strike a balance between computational complexity and optimality. Simulation results show that the proposed 5G AeroMACS-NOMA schemes can achieve a higher achievable sum rate compared with conventional 5G AeroMACS.

Reconfigurable graphene antenna for a network cognitive radio: A novel solution for X-band satellite communications

This study introduces a graphene-based antenna tailored for X-band satellite communication within a cognitive radio network. Leveraging graphene's distinctive traits high conductivity and mechanical flexibility, the antenna design achieves reconfigurability in frequency, polarization, and radiation pattern. This adaptability enables dynamic adjustments to environmental shifts, bolstering the efficiency and dependability of satellite communication. Operating on software-defined radio technology, the cognitive radio system monitors and allocates the available frequency spectrum, allowing real-time adjustments to antenna parameters. Given the widespread usage of the X-band in satellite communications, this antenna proposal stands as an appealing solution for such systems. Its potential applications encompass providing broadband access in remote regions, supporting emergency communication networks, facilitating maritime and aeronautical communications, and enabling self-sustaining wireless networks. The approach involves a novel graphene antenna with slots to facilitate frequency reconfigurability. At 9 GHz, the graphene antenna achieves a gain of 6 dBi, surpassing the 4.3 dBi gain of a copper antenna. By varying the chemical potential of graphene from 0 to 4 eV, we achieved a high gain of 6.4 dBi at 9 GHz and an excellent reflection coefficient of −42 dB at 11.63 GHz. The graphene antenna's improved gain and tuning capabilities surpass traditional materials, showcasing adaptability across diverse frequencies, promising versatility for varied communication needs, and enhancing overall system reliability and effectiveness.

Mega-constellations based TT&C resource sharing: Keep reliable aeronautical communication in an emergency

Mega-constellations based TT&C resource sharing: Keep reliable aeronautical communication in an emergency

Enabling 6G Applications in the Sky: Aeronautical Federation Framework

While the current deployment of 5G is concentrated on high-quality service delivery on a two-dimensional terrestrial area covering our planet's surface, ongoing 5G standardization already addresses parts of the third dimension with 5G Non Terrestrial Networks (5G-NTN). 6G is expected to further leverage aeronautical communication towards a full exploration and comprehensive unification of all three dimensions. In this way, future communication systems will not only encompass all kinds of aeronautical platforms such as satellites, High- Altitude Platforms (HAPs), civil aircrafts, (self-)flying taxis, and UAVs but shall also enable the unification of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks on a service platform level. This is further challenging, due to the rather closed aeronautical systems so far. We believe that emerging technology concepts such as Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) can provide a basis for the full integration of aeronautical systems into their terrestrial counterpart. However, these technologies render the management and orchestration of aeronautical systems complex. As a step towards the integration of aeronautical communication and services into 6G, we propose a framework for the collection, monitoring, and distribution of resources in the sky among heterogeneous flying objects. This enables high-performance services for a new era of 6G aeronautical applications. Based on our proposed Aeronautical Federation Framework, we introduce emerging application use cases including aeronautical edge computing, aeronautical sensor networks, and aircraft cabin networks. In turn, we derive research challenges for 6G aeronautical networks.

Competências do enfermeiro aeroespacial em situações de desastres: revisão de escopo

Objective: to map the competencies of aerospace nurses in disaster situations. Method: a scoping review following the steps recommended by the JBI and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. The review was conducted in three phases by two independent reviewers, with blinding, and supported by a third reviewer to resolve disagreements. Selection was based on the analysis of titles, descriptors, and abstracts, with specific eligibility criteria, followed by the full-text reading. At the end of the selection phase, 37 publications were included. Results: the results highlighted the need for the development of technical skills, knowledge of flight physiology, familiarity with aeronautical emergency procedures, communication skills, leadership, and responsibilities in aircraft preparation. During transport, nurses perform patient history taking (anamnesis), physical examinations, patient monitoring, clinical procedures, and manage in-flight complications. After the flight, they conduct documentation, develop procedures, sanitize clinical equipment, and replenish consumable materials. Conclusion: given the complexity of aerospace nursing practices in disaster situations, it is essential for professionals to develop competencies to ensure safe and effective care. There is a need to develop technologies, regulatory frameworks, and legal provisions for legal support, as well as future studies to validate and deepen the mapped competencies.

The Challenges of Pilot Language Training for Effective Aeronautical Communications in Multicultural Contexts

The Challenges of Pilot Language Training for Effective Aeronautical Communications in Multicultural Contexts

Adaptive Precoding for Aeronautical Communication Systems in Public Channels

The family of aeronautical communication systems is considered as one of the core technologies for the beyond-the-fifth-generation (B5G) networks, thus attracting rapidly increasing attention from both industry and academia. In this paper, a new multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) precoding scheme is proposed for aeronautical communication systems, where the transmit power for the aerial user equipment (UE) approaching the target cell is maximized based on the direction information. Specifically, we first transform the precoding optimization problem into a linear programming problem, and then develop two algorithms to derive the precoders for two transmission modes, namely the multi-stream and single-stream transmissions. For the multi-stream case, an algorithm based on manifold optimization is proposed, which guarantees the equal power allocation for each antenna. For the single-stream case, we derive a precoder by a numerically stable algorithm that extends the Newton-Raphson method. Simulation results show that the proposed precoding schemes can improve the link performance of the UEs with known directions, while ensuring that the performance of the UEs with unknown directions can still be close to that achievable by conventional schemes.

Physical Layer Security for L-Band Digital Aeronautical Communication System with Interference Mitigation

As one of the main candidates for future civil aviation communications systems, the L-band digital aeronautical communication system (L-DACS) is expected to achieve secure and reliable transmission. Due to the broadcasting nature of air–ground wireless links, the L-DACS has the risk of being intercepted by malicious eavesdroppers, which negatively affects aviation communication security. In addition, because the spectrum of the L-DACS overlaps with the aviation distance measuring equipment (DME), the pulse interference caused by the DME signal may lead to the wireless link being more fragile and susceptible to wiretapping. In this paper, with a focus on enhancing wireless transmission security, we propose a comprehensive physical layer security (PLS) method for the L-DACS. The key to the proposed PLS method is restraining the transmission of the eavesdropper by injecting artificial noise into the transmitted signal while improving the transmission of the legitimate receiver through the adoption of pulse interference mitigation. First, to characterize the L-DACS in the secure scene, we derive the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of the legitimate receiver and any potential eavesdropper by constructing equivalent noise. Next, from the perspective of the information theory, we derive the closed form of the secrecy capacity of the L-DACS by employing the proposed PLS methods with three kinds of nonlinear interference mitigation: including ideal pulse blanking, peak threshold-based pulse blanking, and peak threshold-based pulse clipping. Finally, we compare and analyze different ways to enhance the secrecy capacity of the proposed PLS method using various interference mitigation methods.

Design of E-Module Practicum En-Route Flight Information (EFI) Course with the Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model at Aviation Polytechnic of Surabaya

En-Route Flight Information (EFI) is one of the courses in the Diploma 3 Aeronautical Communication Study Program which studies the procedures for guiding aircraft in class G airspace. Based on Annex 11 Air Traffic Service, class G airspace provides flight traffic services for IFR and VFR flights, where the services provided are Flight Information Service and Emergency Service (Alerting Service) [1]. Flight Information Service is a service performed by providing news and information that is useful and beneficial for safety, security and efficiency for flights. Alerting Service is a service performed by notifying the appropriate relevant agencies, regarding aircraft that require the help of search and rescue units and assisting these agencies, if needed. This research uses the Research and Development method with the Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model with qualitative data analysis techniques and written Interview testing techniques with Material Experts and Media Experts using questionnaires. The objectives of this research are 1) To design an E-Module Design product En-Route Flight Information (EFI) with the Rapid Application Development (RAD) Model at the Aviation Polytechnic of Surabaya which can be used as learning on the Learning Management System (LMS) at the Aviation Polytechnic of Surabaya. The result of this research is a learning using E-Module Practicum En-Route Flight Information (EFI) in the form of flipbooks and mastery tests and discussions equipped with video and audio images that have been adjusted to the “Rencana Pembelajaran Semester” (RPS). Then the final result of an E-Module Practicum En-Route Flight Information (EFI) is implemented on the Learning Management System (LMS) of the Aviation Polytechnic of Surabaya.

E-AVIATION LAW MODUL FOR AVIATION VOCATION SCHOOL

Aviation Law is one of the courses in the Aeronautical Communication Diploma 3 Study Program that studies national and international aviation regulations, which aims to enable cadets to explain the regulations that apply nationally and internationally in the work area to guide aviation communication in all classifications of airspace in aviation. In the development of information and communication technology in Indonesia, educational learning media through applications or websites that make learning activities more interesting, effective and efficient. At this time, learning Aviation Law Subjects still uses modules that are less interactive referenced documents so that cadets quickly feel bored and less interested in carrying out learning. So in this industrial revolution 4.0 to realize effective and enjoyable learning, the author suggests making e-modules. In this study using the type of research and with the Waterfall method. The results of this research are E-modules of Aviation Law in the form of flipbooks and mastery tests contained in each topic of discussion which are equipped with images, video, and sound that have been adjusted to the academic syllabus and implemented on the Learning Management System (LMS) in Aviation Polytechnic of Surabaya. The author's goal in this final project is to design and create e-aviation law modules as new interesting and innovative learning media that can help in aviation law learning

E-AVIATION ENGLISH LEARNING

The IELP (ICAO English Language Proficiency) examination is an important requirement for graduation from the D3 Aeronautical Communication program. It is used to assess the English language proficiency of Air Communication personnel. However, many students still struggle to adequately prepare for the IELP examination. With the rapid advancement of technology, the development of the E-Aviation English Learning website has emerged as a new innovation to serve as a learning platform and facilitate the preparation of students for the IELP examination. The research method employed in the creation of this website is Research and Development, utilizing the ADDIE development method, which consists of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. Black box testing was used as the testing technique, and qualitative descriptive analysis was conducted using triangulation through interviews, observations, and documentation. The result of this research is the E-Aviation English Learning website, which contains materials tailored to the needs of the students, along with features for instructors and administrators to monitor students' learning progress. The conclusion of this research is that the website meets the expected requirements; however, further development is still necessary to improve its features and user interface, aiming to provide a more convenient learning experience for the students

QUALITY OF SERVICE AND SECURITY OF AERONAUTICAL COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

Aeronautical communication networks play a decisive role in the aviation industry, enabling real-time data exchange between various systems such ground stations, air traffic control and aircraft. Making sure that both requirements – high-quality-service and security – are met is mandatory to guarantee the efficiency, safety and reliability of aeronautical operations. This paper will go through a comprehensive inquiry of the quality of service and security of aeronautical communication and the relationship between them. The main focus of this paper is the security of aeronautical communications. The paper will examine the main types of aircraft communication types and will describe the cyber threats and the security measures applicable in order to mitigate the threats accordingly.

Implementing the ICAO Language Proficiency Requirements: The Localization of Aviation English Testing

Abstract There are still language-related safety issues in international aeronautical radiotelephony communications. This article revisits the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) language policy, a set of language proficiency requirements mainly reflected in the ICAO Rating Scale (Pronunciation, Structure, Vocabulary, Fluency, Comprehension, and Interaction). Although the ICAO Rating Scale has been used globally to assess professional aviation speakers’ communicative language proficiency for two decades now, it remains unclear what role the six ICAO criteria have played in high-stakes aviation English tests. We thus conducted an independent study based on secondary data analysis. We applied the Winsteps Rasch Rating Scale Model to 358 Chinese pilots’ test scores on an aviation English test in China. The results suggest that the six criteria carried considerably different relative values in contribution to test outcomes and that Interaction was different from the other five criteria. This exploratory study provides an example of how the ICAO assessment criteria were used in a locally developed aviation English test; its findings can have implications for supporting and implementing a language policy for global harmonization.

Sickle-shaped high gain and low profile based four port MIMO antenna for 5G and aeronautical mobile communication

The construction of the four-port MIMO antenna in the form of a sickle is provided in the article. Initially, the single port element is designed and optimized. Next, a structure with two ports is created, and lastly, a design with four ports is completed. This process is repeated until the design is optimized. Three types of parametric analysis are considered, including variations in length, widths of sickle-shaped patches, and varying sizes of DGS. The frequency range of 2–8 GHz is used for structural investigation. The − 18.77 dB of return loss was observed at 3.825 GHz for a single-element structure. The optimized one-port structure provides a return loss of − 19.79 dB at 3.825 GHz. The port design offers a bandwidth of 0.71 GHz (3.515–4.225). The four-port design represents two bands that are observed at 3 GHz and 5.43 GHz. Both bands provide the return loss at respectively − 19.79 dB and − 20.53 dB with bandwidths of 1.375 GHz (2.14–3.515) and 0.25 GHz (5.335–5.585). The healthy isolation among both transmittance and reflectance response is achieved. The low-profile material was used to create the design that was presented. The article includes a comparison of the findings that were measured and those that were simulated. The four-port design that has been shown offers a total gain of 15.93 dB, a peak co-polar value of 5.46 dB, a minimum return loss of − 20.53 dB, a peak field distribution of 46.43 A/m and a maximum bandwidth of 1.375 GHz. The values for all diversity parameters like ECC are near zero, the Negative value of TARC, Near to zero MEG, DG is almost 10 dB, and a zero value of CCL is achieved. All diversity parameter performance is within the allowable range. The design is well suited for 5G and aeronautical mobile communication applications.