Helicopter satellite communication: Development of low-cost real-time voice and data system for Aeronautical Mobile Satellite Service (AMSS)

Current helicopter communication is handled by VHF radio which is limited in coverage and operational range. There has not been any SATCOM system designed to meet the requirements of helicopters. Existing fixed wing aircraft SATCOM systems have been considered but do not support helicopter specific requirements. Furthermore, the high cost, size, and weight of these systems make them unsuitable for helicopter applications. In this paper, various diversity techniques have been investigated for optimum design. Coding, modulation, and interleaving are all employed to mitigate periodic RF signal blockage, due to the main rotor blades, and high Doppler frequency shifts. At the same time, the helicopter's wide angle rapid flight maneuvers impose restrictions on the antenna requirements for continuous coverage. Potential low-cost omni-directional antennas and locations on the helicopter are presented.