Abstract: An airline packet network transfers flight data files among respective airborne aircraft in flight. The network includes a plurality of aircraft each having a ground data link unit that includes a data store to accumulate and store flight data files and flight performance data related to flight performance of the respective aircraft in flight. The data store includes a buffer for storing flight data files that have been uploaded to the aircraft of another airborne aircraft for ready transferring flight to another aircraft and an archival data store for storing flight performance data. A spread spectrum transceiver has a receiver and transmitted coupled to the data store that is operative to transmit flight performance data when the aircraft is on the ground and transmit and receive flight data files when the aircraft is airborne when the airborne aircraft are within close proximity to each other.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention exchanges information to and from an aircraft and includes a ground data link unit and a data store, which accumulates and stores data files that have been uploaded to the aircraft, and flight performance data related to flight performance of the aircraft in flight. A spread spectrum transceiver of the ground data link unit is operative at a first higher data rate when the aircraft is on the ground, and a second substantially lower data rate when the aircraft is airborne in close proximity to the airport and downloads the flight performance data and uploads other data to and from an airport base spread spectrum transceiver.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention provides a retrievable record of the flight performance of an aircraft and allows exchanging of data to and from an aircraft. A ground data link unit obtains flight performance data. A spread spectrum transceiver is coupled to an archival data store that has accumulated and stored the flight performance data. The spread spectrum transceiver downloads both the flight performance data and data messages over the spread spectrum communication signal as the aircraft approaches the destination airport and after the aircraft completes its flight and lands at the airport. An airport based spread spectrum transceiver receives the spread spectrum communication signal and demodulates the signal to obtain the data messages and flight performance data. A ground based processor coupled to the airport based spread spectrum transceiver receives at least the data message for subsequent processing.