Ku/Ka Band Satellite Subcommittee

Last Updated: May 18, 2012

Chairman: Peter Lemme – DDGI
APIM 07-008C: Ku-Band Satellite Hardware Installations and Equipment Interfaces (pdf, 108K)

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Goal: The Ku-Band Working Group is developing standards for broadband satellite system hardware and aircraft installation provisions. The Ku-band activity is working closely with AGCS and CSS. The Ku-Band system is being defined in Project Paper 791. Antenna mounting provisions is being accelerated to meet near-term aircraft needs. Because the scope of defining the Ku-band system is large, the definition of physical characteristics and interfaces to the airplane structure are of major importance and are the initial focus. Project Paper 791 is being developed in two (2) parts:

• Part 1: Physical installation and aircraft interfaces
• Part 2: Electrical Interfaces

Scope: Ku-band satellite equipment standards are expected to provide airlines with freedom of choice of their internet gateway service provider and the associated equipment. Internet gateway services are intended for airline passengers and crew. Passenger services will be provided in coordination with evolving cabin system standards and In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) standards.

Ku-band satellite services have the potential to yield a wide variety of service offerings with dedicated equipment that would otherwise require custom installation. To enable the wide-spread use of this equipment, standards will be developed for Ku-band satellite equipment hardware and electrical installation interfaces. Antenna mounting provisions will be developed to meet near-term aircraft needs.

Benefit: Ku-band satellite equipment is expected to deliver internet gateway services to airline passengers and crew, including internet, telephony, television, and so forth. Aircraft data may be collected and sent to the airline base. Standardization will simplify the Ku-band system definition and lower the cost of installation of this equipment.

• The benefit for airlines is freedom of choice in their internet gateway service provider.
• The benefit for airframe manufacturers is to reduce the amount of customization to aircraft and simplify the installation of Ku-band systems. Airframe manufacturers will have the ability to offer competitive solutions to meet the diverse needs of their customers.
• The benefit for avionics equipment suppliers is an expanding market for standardized equipment that is applicable to multiple airplane manufacturers and models.

These benefits are expected to be seen on the Airbus A350 and Boeing 747-8 initially, and in many retrofit aircraft programs.

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Work Program :

Future Work Program:

Current efforts will focus on developing recommendations for Part 1 of Project Paper 791 with an aim to support the release of Part 1 in October 2009. The release of Part 2 will follow later in 2010. Major open issues continuing to be addressed include:

• RF interface - Antenna to Ku Band RF Unit (KRFU), including transmit function Ku Band insertion loss flexible waveguide versus coaxial cable) and receive function accommodating DBS Television operation.
• Size and proximity of KRFU - Must fit between frames and allow 50 cm RF connection to antenna.
• Source and utility of navigation sensor data - ARINC 704A or equivalent ARINC 429 data bus interface and azimuth steering to Geo-stationary orbit plane should be accurate to 0.2 degrees.
• Cooling for the KRFU – to handle over 500 Watts.
• 66 pin cable from Ku Band Airplane Networking Data Unit (KANDU) to KRFU/Antenna (through fuselage penetration) wire types and pin-outs.

The airlines expressed the desire to locate the Ku Band Modem and System Manager (ModMan) in the EE bay as opposed to mounting it in the Video Control Center (VCC).

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Current Drafts:

Draft 2 of Supplement 1 to ARINC Characteristic 791: Mark I Aviation Ku-Band and Ka-Band Satellite Communication System, Part 1, Physical Installation and Aircraft Interfaces

Next Meeting Announcement:

Ku/Ka Band Satcom Subcommittee (pdf, 212K)
July 24-26, 2012; in Seattle, Washington
Register On Line

Working Papers:

Last Meeting Report:

Ku/Ka Band Satellite Communications Subcommittee
January 17-19, 2012; in Daytona, Florida