Patent ID: 6160998
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A system for providing a retrievable record of the flight performance of an aircraft comprising:a ground data link unit that obtains flight performance data representative of aircraft flight performance during flight of the aircraft and generates data messages to be downloaded, said ground data link unit comprising:a) an archival data store operative to accumulate and store flight performance data during flight of the aircraft and any data messages to be downloaded from the aircraft as the aircraft approaches a destination airport, andb) a spread spectrum transceiver coupled to said archival data store, and comprising a transmitter that is operative to download the data messages over a spread spectrum communication signal as the aircraft approaches in proximity to a destination airport, and operative after the aircraft completes its flight and lands at an airport to download the flight performance data that has been accumulated and stored by said archival data store during flight over the spread spectrum communication signal;an airport based spread spectrum transceiver comprising a receiver that receives the spread spectrum communication signal from the aircraft and demodulates the signal to obtain the data messages and flight performance data; anda ground based processor coupled to said airport based spread spectrum transceiver for receiving at least the data messages for subsequent processing.