STUDY OF CHANNEL MODEL FOR WIRELESS COCKPIT DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR MILITARY TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT

Issues of increased weight, Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI), installation, maintenance, upgradation of legacy systems, modifications and increased risk of fire due to arcing and shorting of onboard cables in aircraft has resulted in wireless networks gradually gaining relevance for future generation aircraft. Wireless technology can meet most of the challenges of modern avionics systems, apart from significantly reducing the weight due to wires and associated hardware, with proper selection of technology. Wireless technology is already in use for in-flight entertainment systems. Wireless Avionics Intra Communication (WAIC) is expected to pave the way for use of wireless technology in avionics. One of the crucial factors in introducing a wireless network in an aircraft is to identify the channel model inside an aircraft. This paper aims to study various channel models, including the one recommended by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), for analysing the channel for the cockpit display system inside a military transport aircraft. Based on the analysis and simulation results, the likely channel has been identified.