1. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising processor executable instructions that when executed by a computer processor disposed within an airborne aircraft cause the computer processor to: command a directional antenna installed on the aircraft and a transceiver disposed within the aircraft to measure a first signal-to-noise ratio of a first communication channel corresponding to a first location on the ground, the first communication channel configured to support transmissions to/from the airborne aircraft; command the directional antenna and the transceiver to measure a second signal-to-noise ratio of a second communication channel corresponding to a second location on the ground, the second communication channel configured to support transmissions to/from the airborne aircraft; calculate a first forward-link user capacity estimate using the first signal-to-noise ratio of the first communication channel; calculate a second forward-link user capacity estimate using the second signal-to-noise ratio of the second communication channel; and calculate a forward-link user capacity matrix using the first forward-link user capacity estimate and the second forward-link user capacity estimate, wherein the forward-link user capacity matrix is utilized to select communication channels to utilize for transmissions between a plurality of ground stations disposed on the ground and the airborne aircraft.