Abstract: A global, broadband communications and computing system Platform for commercial aircraft selects a “current best” communication link from multiple available links. Onboard network access components, such as Wi-Fi and GSM pico-cells, enable wired/wireless devices to use the aircraft's broadband communications links. The Platform uses virtualization and distributed systems computing technology to create a system of systems that extends an airline company's ground communications and computing systems server(s) onboard aircraft in the fleet, regardless of model, age, or manufacturer. The Platform can host airline operational applications and services onboard the aircraft. An onboard system collects data from multiple aircraft systems, tags it with trusted time and origin metadata, and securely transmits it to a ground portion of the Platform in real time (or as links are available), and receives data for distribution to appropriate onboard systems.