Patent ID: 7398057

Claim:
A communication system for communicating messages between an aircraft and a remote operations center, comprising: at least one portable control and display unit onboard an aircraft that transmits and receives (1) data communication, (2) voice communication, and (3) video communication; an Aircraft Communication and Reporting System (ACARS) transceiver located on the aircraft to receive from and transmit to the at least one portable control and display unit (1) data communication, (2) voice communication, and (3) video communication; and at least one peripheral device located on the aircraft, wherein a user employs the at least one portable control and display unit to transmit messages to and receive messages from a remote operations center via the ACARS transceiver communicating through a VHF radio onboard the aircraft, the messages comprising the at least one of data communication, voice communication and video communication, wherein the at least one portable control and display unit is configured to transmit a vehicle position at a programmed interval which can only be turned off by encrypted command from a remote site.