Aeronautical applications of Ka-band

The system described has been devised to meet the perceived requirement for use of satellite communication by smaller aircraft where only regional operation is needed. It is therefore seen as complimentary to the existing global L-band system. Forecasts of the potential market for a European aeronautical mobile satellite system are used to generate a system requirement specification. One of the major propagation problems at Ka-band concerns rain fades. Larger Doppler offsets and higher phase noise in comparison with L-band are also encountered. Account has been taken of these problems in design of the Ka-band system. Possible satellite payload and Aeronautical Earth Station designs are described. The advantages and disadvantages of Ka-band for aeronautical mobile satellite services are discussed and areas examined where further investigations are needed