Leveraging 802.16e in airport surface communications networks

The National Airspace System (NAS) is rapidly expanding and straining the capabilities of current communications technologies. The need to implement increased capacity, security and network enabled information sharing in limited spectrum will pose a significant challenge. To address these issues in the next generation (NextGen) airspace and develop a robust future communications infrastructure, a new airport surface wireless communications system is necessary. Through an initiative known as the Future Communications Study, the FAA and NASA have endorsed the IEEE 802.16e standard as the basis for implementing future airport surface wireless communication networks. In November 2007, the World Radiocommunications Conference approved the addition of an aeronautical mobile route service frequency allocation in the 5091 - 5150 MHz band to support development of these 802.16e-based communications networks. Sensis Corporation and NASA Glenn Research Center currently operate a NextGen Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) Test Bed in Cleveland, OH. A critical component of the Test Bed operation is an IEEE 802.1 la-based wireless mesh data communications network. Through experimental and empirical analysis, the findings from the current operation of the 802.11a-based network and recommendations for upgrade to 802.16e-based capabilities for airport surface wireless communications are provided.