Selecting locations for avionics antennas: a structured approach

A methodology that analytically estimates an avionics system's performance when its antennas are installed at various compromised locations is described. The methodology begins with a computer-aided design analysis to determine what aircraft structure lies in the antenna's free-space field of view from a given installed location. This first step allows candidate locations to be eliminated if the aircraft blocks too much of the antenna's field of interest. Once a location that provides a sufficiently unobstructed field of view is identified, the geometric theory of diffraction or other appropriate electromagnetic scattering code is used to obtain a more detailed prediction of the installed antenna's performance. An analysis of the avionics system performance is made to determine whether the installed device can meet avionics system requirements. When antenna locations that simultaneously satisfy avionics system requirements and meet other constraints are found, prototype testing can be accomplished to verify that predicted antenna patterns.<>