The future of data communication in Aviation 4.0 environment

Currently experienced the dawn of the Aviation 4.0 era is transforming the contemporary technological environment, throughout the whole aeronautical industry, by creating cyber-physical systems. Following the evolutionary path, incorporating advanced automated and first autonomy systems, the applications involved are becoming increasingly data- oriented. The need for progressive data analytics, massive adoption and operation of IoT devices, delivering advanced monitoring and machine learning opportunities, building the core structure for artificial intelligence, will put a significant pressure on data communication and connectivity itself. In the near future, the problems may especially arise in datalink used in civil aviation. This research paper briefly studies the contemporary systems used for datalink, determines dominant aspects of Aviation 4.0 and their overall impact on the performance requirements of the data communications network, and proposes the possible solution to the problematics, with newly emerging LEO satellite mega-constellations providing Internet connectivity. The conclusion of this paper highlights the requirements for future data communication systems and determines whether the existing and proposed datalink subnetwork technologies are capable of meeting the demands established by Aviation 4.0.