Measurements and model for the satellite-to-aircraft channel in L-band

Wireless radio transmission from a satellite-based emitter to a receiver located on an aircraft is of interest for many applications such as internet access for passengers, air traffic management or positioning by global navigation satellite systems especially when a worldwide service shall be granted. In particular, the last two mentioned applications are related to the safety of life requiring realistic and accurate channel models for software-based system testing. State-of-the-art channel models for the satellite-to-aircraft case lack of accuracy in terms of modelling all propagation impairments. In this contribution, the authors describe airborne propagation experiments using Global Positioning System signals for channel sounding, the data evaluation and the derived channel model.