FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to radio frequency surveys for aircraft.

BACKGROUND

Aircraft often send flight data and other information related to the aircraft to a network of an airport. For example, upon arriving at a gate of the airport, the aircraft sends flight data wirelessly to a particular sub-system of the airport, such as a computer or server of an airline that operates the aircraft, a radio tower of the airport, one or more other sub-systems of the airport, or a combination thereof.

In some circumstances, the aircraft stores a relatively large amount of information to be offloaded upon arrival at an airport. As a result, offloading the information in a particular time frame (e.g., prior to departure of a subsequent flight) can be difficult. Further, RF noise or interference can delay offloading of the information. For example, RF noise or interference can introduce errors in the transmission of the information, resulting in the need to retransmit the information, so that the received information is accurate.

Sometimes a survey is performed to determine radio frequency (RF) characteristics of an airport in order to facilitate offloading of data from aircraft. For example, the survey can be performed using a receiver mounted in a terrestrial vehicle (e.g., a truck or a van) to monitor RF signals, interference, or noise at one or more locations of the airport. In a particular example, the survey enables the aircraft to avoid using a “noisy” channel or frequency while offloading data. For example, if the survey indicates that a channel or frequency at a particular gate is relatively noisy, the aircraft may avoid use of the channel or frequency at such gate while offloading data to speed up offloading the data as compared to using a noisier channel (e.g., due to fewer errors).

Use of a terrestrial vehicle to perform a survey is costly and inconvenient. For example, driving the terrestrial vehicle to each gate of the airport and monitoring RF signals is time consuming. Upon completion of the survey, data of the survey may be outdated (e.g., due to change in telecommunications systems or noise characteristics of the airport). As another example, the terrestrial vehicle may be subject to one or more security checkpoints at the airport and may need access to the airfield of the airport, potentially blocking access to the gate by one or more other vehicles and using airport resources (e.g., security).

SUMMARY

In a particular example, an apparatus includes a communications interface configured to receive, at a first aircraft, data related to a radiofrequency (RF) survey of a particular location. The RF survey is based on RF samples from at least a second aircraft. The apparatus further includes a radio, an onboard network system (ONS) configured to determine that the first aircraft is approaching the particular location, and a radio controller coupled to the radio. The radio controller is configured to automatically adjust, based on the RF survey and responsive to determining that the first aircraft is approaching the particular location, a parameter of the radio.

In another example, a method includes receiving, at a first aircraft, data related to an RF survey of a particular location. The RF survey is based on RF samples from at least a second aircraft. The method further includes determining that the first aircraft is approaching the particular location. The method further includes, based on the RF survey and responsive to determining that the first aircraft is approaching the particular location, automatically adjusting a parameter of a radio of the first aircraft.

In another example, a computer-readable medium stores instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to initiate, perform, or control operations. The operations include receiving, at a first aircraft, data related to an RF survey of a particular location. The RF survey is based on RF samples from at least a second aircraft. The operations further include determining that the first aircraft is approaching the particular location. The operations further include, based on the RF survey and responsive to determining that the first aircraft is approaching the particular location, automatically adjusting a parameter of a radio of the first aircraft.

