Selected results for IPv6 based SWIM, CPDLC and VoIP in the SANDRA flight trial campaign

Air traffic in Europe is expected to double by 2025 according to the last forecast of Eurocontrol, with an average growth of 2.7%-3.7% per year. In this context, an integrated aircraft communication system is of paramount importance to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the air transportation system. The SANDRA (“Seamless Aeronautical Networking Through Integration of Data Links, Radios and Antennas”) project designed, implemented and validated an integrated aeronautical communications system for this purpose. This system has now been put to the test in in-flight trials using the DLR Airbus A-320 ATRA Advanced Technology Research Aircraft. This paper presents results of these trials gained from the measurement of selected sample-applications. These sample applications were modeled after real-world aeronautical communication applications, but specifically adapted to allow network performance measurements.