An engine monitoring system for an aircraft engine, the aircraft engine having a nacelle extending annularly thereabout and including at least one sensor positioned radially inward from the nacelle, said system comprising: an engine control device configured to be enclosed within the nacelle and communicatively couplable to the at least one sensor, said engine control device configured to at least one of receive engine data from the at least one sensor and receive instruction data from a transmitter device positioned radially outward from a radially outward surface of the nacelle; and a composite panel (208,702,802,902) configured to be coupled to the nacelle, the composite panel comprising: at least a portion of the nacelle; an antenna embedded within the composite panel and communicatively coupled to said engine control device; and a panel support structure enclosing and supporting said antenna, wherein said panel support structure comprises a radio frequency transparent material; wherein said antenna comprises a ground plane positioned radially inward from the radially outward surface of the nacelle and a radome positioned radially outward from said ground plane, the radome comprises a radome material that is substantially transparent to electromagnetic signals; wherein said antenna is configured to at least one of: receive the engine data from said engine control device and to transmit the engine data to a receiver device positioned radially outward from the radially outward surface of the nacelle; and receive the instruction data from the transmitter device and to transmit the instruction data to said engine control device. an engine control device configured to be enclosed within the nacelle and communicatively couplable to the at least one sensor, said engine control device configured to at least one of receive engine data from the at least one sensor and receive instruction data from a transmitter device positioned radially outward from a radially outward surface of the nacelle; and a composite panel (208,702,802,902) configured to be coupled to the nacelle, the composite panel comprising: at least a portion of the nacelle; an antenna embedded within the composite panel and communicatively coupled to said engine control device; and a panel support structure enclosing and supporting said antenna, wherein said panel support structure comprises a radio frequency transparent material; at least a portion of the nacelle; an antenna embedded within the composite panel and communicatively coupled to said engine control device; and a panel support structure enclosing and supporting said antenna, wherein said panel support structure comprises a radio frequency transparent material; wherein said antenna comprises a ground plane positioned radially inward from the radially outward surface of the nacelle and a radome positioned radially outward from said ground plane, the radome comprises a radome material that is substantially transparent to electromagnetic signals; wherein said antenna is configured to at least one of: receive the engine data from said engine control device and to transmit the engine data to a receiver device positioned radially outward from the radially outward surface of the nacelle; and receive the instruction data from the transmitter device and to transmit the instruction data to said engine control device. receive the engine data from said engine control device and to transmit the engine data to a receiver device positioned radially outward from the radially outward surface of the nacelle; and receive the instruction data from the transmitter device and to transmit the instruction data to said engine control device.