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Aircraft manufacturers for a long time have been looking to reduce the weight of on board equipment to enhance performance both from commercial aspect and from military aspect. The existing wired technology, using cables to connect different on board line replaceable unit apart from increasing the weight also increases the complexity related to electromagnetic interference, installation and maintenance. With continuous technology upgradation in the wireless domain, aviation industry is in the process of using wireless technology for intra-aircraft communication. Wireless technology can meet most of the challenges of modern avionics systems and significantly reduce the weight. This paper aims to look at various aspects of implementing a wireless network including issues related to wired network, aircraft channel, interference issues, suitable wireless protocols for aircraft applications and security aspects.

The paper has relied on literature study on wireless avionics intra-communications (WAIC) and the research work carried out in specific areas related to channel inside an aircraft, interference issues of wireless systems with onboard and external systems operating in the same band and security issues related to wireless network and security requirements of implementing an avionics wireless network (AWN). To identify suitable wireless protocol for AWN literature review and simulation to compare different protocols was carried out.

A single wireless protocol may not be suitable for all aircraft systems, and therefore, there may be a requirement to use multiple technologies. Mutual interference is not expected between WAIC systems with on board and external systems operating in the same band. The channel inside an aircraft is expected to be Rician (LOS) or Rayleigh (NLOS). However, additional measurements may have to be undertaken to have a generalized channel model. Security aspects in an AWN are critical and needs to be analyzed in detail prior to any wireless deployment.

Implementation of wireless technology can pave the way for usage of wireless technology for future generation avionics. With International Telecommunication Union allotting dedicated band for WAIC operations, considerable amount of research has been initiated in this field. It is believed that in the coming 2-3 years, the designers will be ready to replace the existing data wires with wireless transceivers. With radio technical commission for aeronautics and EURACAE involved in development of minimum operations performance standards for WAIC systems use of wireless for intra communication is bound to happen. Therefore, it is necessary to look at different issues for integrating wireless in the avionics domain.

The existing studies have been carried out in individual domains of using wireless in avionics. Separate studies and research work has been carried out for identifying wireless protocols, aircraft channel models, interference issues and security aspects. The paper has attempted to look at all these aspects together including certification.

The purpose of this paper is to present a method to analyze the noise in aircraft cabins through the VHF Aeronautical Communication Channel, aimed at examining an environment that has the possibility of communication problems between the aircraft crew and the professionals responsible for the controls on land.

This analysis includes equipment normally used for identification and comparison of electromagnetic noise, the cabin and the environment that are present in an airport, as well as equipment for frequency analysis and intensity of those signals. The analysis is done in a reverse way, eliminating situations that are not common in the examined environment, until the identification of the situation with the irregularity.

According to the results, the implementation of the Fourier transform for noise analysis in the cabin was efficient. These results demonstrate that through this transformation, the noise sources can be identified in the environments in cases where there is much spectrum pollution.

This kind of noise analysis is important, considering the importance of having good accuracy in airport environment analysis.

The paper presents the main trends in the future of aviation communications, and describes the new applications that aim to minimize problems with the current VHF channel.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a taxonomy for an eMaintenance management framework (eMMF) based on a service‐oriented approach, in order to facilitate the development of information and communication technology (ICT)‐based maintenance support services aimed at actors within the maintenance process related to complex technical industrial systems.

To fulfil this purpose, a case study of a modern multi‐role combat aircraft is selected as an appropriate research strategy and supported by a literature study. Empirical data are collected through interviews, workshops, document studies, and observations. A framework is developed and evaluated using a prototype within the studied case. The study is performed in close cooperation with the aircraft's type certificate holder and the customer representative and operator in one country.

The proposed eMMF aids in the identification and development of ICT‐based maintenance support services tailored for specific maintenance actors and their activities.

To further test the usefulness of the proposed framework, a larger scale application must be performed. This can involve additional stakeholders or a larger part of the technical system in the selected case, or another case dealing with complex technical industrial systems.

The proposed framework supports the identification of required information services that support the maintenance process, which in turn supports the development of a service‐oriented architecture (SOA) aimed at proper maintenance information logistics. Hence, people working with information logistics for maintenance purposes can use the framework as a support tool.

The proposed framework combines a process and service‐oriented approach, which facilitates the development of SOA‐based information services by giving valuable input to more traditional system‐oriented approaches.

The purpose of this paper is to study the process, network, skills and practices of service parts logistics organizations in the Asia Pacific region. Specifically, it attempts to propose a new framework for service parts logistics management based on interview inputs from several leading automotive and aerospace companies. This paper also seeks to identify the trends and opportunities for service parts logistics in Singapore.

Companies from aerospace and automotive industries involved in service logistics activities were involved in the study. Data were obtained primarily through interviews with key executives of the company.

This paper summarizes some of the industry findings on service parts logistics in the Asia Pacific region. To succeed in the service logistics business, companies should not focus on cost factors alone. Instead, companies should adopt the proposed framework and look into other factors.

The research is limited to companies in the aerospace and automotive industries only.

This framework was drawn from industry inputs and can be easily applied in decision making.

The paper provides a new framework to assist decision makers in deciding where a company should locate its service part logistics hub.

Briefly reviews previous literature by the author before presenting an original 12 step system integration protocol designed to ensure the success of companies or countries in their efforts to develop and market new products. Looks at the issues from different strategic levels such as corporate, international, military and economic. Presents 31 case studies, including the success of Japan in microchips to the failure of Xerox to sell its invention of the Alto personal computer 3 years before Apple: from the success in DNA and Superconductor research to the success of Sunbeam in inventing and marketing food processors: and from the daring invention and production of atomic energy for survival to the successes of sewing machine inventor Howe in co‐operating on patents to compete in markets. Includes 306 questions and answers in order to qualify concepts introduced.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential applications of stratospheric communication platforms (SCP), which have been recently introduced as an alternative for satellite communications.

Various applications, solutions and services are planned by using aircraft or airship SCP, which could be classified as digital narrowband or broadband, depending on the broadband required. The platforms as base stations can provide service for fixed and mobile applications, with commercial and military solutions. Subscribers will use uplink to the platform for transmitting and receiving information, where onboard SCP switching devices will downlink to the ground station and route traffic directly to other subscribers within the same platform coverage, to another platform via optical inter‐platform links, trough heterogeneous networks including satellite or to the terrestrial telecommunications network. Each SCP can deploy an antenna for large coverage area or a multibeam antenna capable of projecting numerous spot beams within its potential coverage area.

This paper outlines the findings of fixed and mobile applications, features, testing and some specific development programs of SCP using aircraft solutions, such as SkyTower and airship solutions, such as CRL/TAO/NAL.

Particular consideration is given to the use of SCP for delivery of future broadband, broadcast and multimedia wireless communications including research for new communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) implications.

SCP will provide communication facilities that can exploit the best features for both terrestrial and satellite schemes.

Emerging solutions of voice, data and video over IP are offered by SCPs operating in the stratosphere at altitudes of up to 25 km.

Military technology is traditionally shrouded in secrecy. Even joint research between allies can be a marriage of convenience. But with the end of the Cold War and greater European integration, the technological landscape is changing, and a closer interface is emerging between military and civilian technologies. A worldwide stagnation in defence spending is accelerating the take‐up of commercial off‐the‐shelf technologies, while in the aerospace sector, the factors of safety and the environment are becoming at least as important as cost.

Technology for training military teams has evolved through a convergence of advances in simulation technology for individual and collective training, methods for analyzing teamwork and designing training solutions, and intelligent tutoring technologies that adapt training to the student, to accelerate learning. A number of factors have slowed this evolution toward intelligent team tutoring systems (ITTS), including the challenges of processing communications data, which are the currency of teamwork, and the paucity of automated and generalizable measures of team work. Several systems fulfill a subset of the features required of an ITTS, namely the use of team training objectives, teamwork models, measures of teamwork, diagnostic capability, instructional strategies, and adaptation of training to team needs. We describe these systems: the Advanced Embedded Training System (AETS), Synthetic Cognition for Operational Team Training (SCOTT), the AWO Trainer, the Benchmarked Experiential System for Training (BEST), and the Cross-Platform Mission Visualization Tool. We close this chapter with recommendations for future research.