Connectivity analytical modelling for a single flight path ad hoc aeronautical network

Connectivity is one of decision performance parameters that evaluate applicability of ad hoc networking in aeronautical network. In this paper, a connectivity analytical model for ad hoc networking among aircraft in a flight path is introduced. This model allows us to evaluate connectivity between two aircraft based on their distance, their transmission range and aircraft density, or the average number of aircraft in a single transmission range and ratio between distance and transmission range. The model also shows the dependence of the network extensibility on the connectivity requirement, which is how much is the maximum ratio of the distance between two aircraft and transmission range that the probability of their connectedness still satisfies connectivity constraint, under the given condition of the number of aircraft in transmission range. We have some discussion about feasibility of ad hoc aeronautical network based on this model.