L-Band Antenna for Aircraft-To-Satellite Communications

An L-band aircraft transmit/receive antenna for the future AEROSAT system is proposed. It consists of two identical phase-scanned four-spiral antenna arrays mounted laterally on either side of the upper area of the aircraft body. The fan-beam is pointed in 10 different angular directions such as to satisfy the 4 dBi minimum gain coverage in the field-of-view 10° above horizon. The antenna mounts flush with the skin cutout between two stringers and frames in aircraft with transoceanic capability. The coverage performance of the antenna is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally.