Patent ID: 7095376

Claim:
A method for directing an antenna mounted in a radome on an aircraft, comprising the steps of: providing a flattened radome configured to substantially minimize aerodynamic drag caused by wind flow past the flattened radome and to cover the antenna, wherein the antenna has a width dimension which is at least three times larger than a height dimension; determining whether the antenna is directed in a keyhole; controlling the antenna using an elevation gimbal and an azimuth gimbal when it is determined that the antenna is pointing outside the keyhole, wherein the antenna is pointing outside the keyhole when the elevation gimbal is directed at an angle of less than 80 degrees with respect to a tangential plane of the aircraft and an azimuth error value of the azimuth gimbal is less than ±0.1 degrees with respect to the tangential plane of the aircraft; and directing the antenna using an elevation, azimuth, and cross elevation gimbal when it is determined the antenna is pointing in the keyhole.