Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in an aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; a transmission element (50), for example a dielectric filled hole or a coaxial transmission line assembly, in an external panel (9) of the aircraft (2); and wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after the aircraft (2) has landed, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6) via the transmission element (50).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining a capability of a vehicle, for example, an aircraft. The method comprises: acquiring, by one or more processors, from the vehicle, fault data that indicates the presence or absence of a fault on the vehicle; acquiring, by the one or more processors, a mission model specifying a mission to be performed; and processing, by the one or more processors, the fault data to determine an indication indicative of a capability of the vehicle to perform the mission specified by the mission model. The fault data may include one or more Fault Indication Codes (FICs) that are activated in response to the presence of respective faults in the vehicle. The one or more processors may, using the determined indications, determine a mission or maintenance schedule for the vehicle.

Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in a first location, for example a bay (8), in a aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; and wireless apparatus (18) comprising an antenna (28), at least the antenna (28) being located in a second location, for example an undercarriage bay, in the aircraft (2) that is different to the first location, the wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after landing, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6); the second location (10) being a location that can have a closed or open configuration and which will be in the closed configuration for at least a majority of the flight and in the open configuration, for a purpose other than retrieving the stored data, after the aircraft (2) has landed.

Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in a first location, for example a bay (8), in a aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; and wireless apparatus (18) comprising an antenna (28), at least the antenna (28) being located in a second location, for example an undercarriage bay, in the aircraft (2) that is different to the first location, the wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after landing, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6); the second location (10) being a location that can have a closed or open configuration and which will be in the closed configuration for at least a majority of the flight and in the open configuration, for a purpose other than retrieving the stored data, after the aircraft (2) has landed.

Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in a aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; and wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after the aircraft (2) has landed, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6), at a frequency in a range selected from the following ranges: (i) 50-70 GHz, (ii) 110-120 GHz, (iii) 170-190 GHz, (iv) 310-330 GHz, (v) 22-24 GHz. for example in the range of 50-70 GHz or more particularly in the range of 55-65 GHz. The data storage device (14) may be located in an electromagnetically sealed bay (8) of the aircraft (2). An antenna (28) of the wireless apparatus (18) may be in a location, for example an undercarriage bay, that is in an open configuration, for a purpose other than retrieving the stored data, after the aircraft (2) has landed.

Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in an aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; a transmission element (50), for example a dielectric filled hole or a coaxial transmission line assembly, in an external panel (9) of the aircraft (2); and wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after the aircraft (2) has landed, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6) via the transmission element (50).