Airline peer-to-peer data transfer system

A method for providing offline communications on an aircraft, the method comprising:

• determining, by one or more processors in a first client device executing an airline application on an aircraft while the aircraft is in flight, that the first client device is unable to access an online airline database;
• receiving, by the one or more processors via a short-range communication protocol over a dedicated secure communication channel, a request from a second client device to open a communication session with the first client device, the request including identification information for the second client device and an indication of the airline application executing on the second client device;
• determining, by the one or more processors, whether the second client device has permission to access a mesh network for communicating airline data peer-to-peer based on one or more of:
• (i) the dedicated secure communication channel over which the request is received, (ii) the identification information for the second client device, or (iii) the indication of the airline application executing on the second client device;
• in response to determining that the second client device has permission to access the mesh network, providing, by the one or more processors, airline data to the second client device via the mesh network to synchronize the second client device with the airline data stored at the first client device.

A first client device for providing offline communications on an aircraft, the first client device comprising:

• a local database storing airline data;
• one or more processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable memory coupled to the one or more processors and the database, including an airline application stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first client device to:
• determine on an aircraft while the aircraft is in flight that the first client device is unable to access an online airline database;
• receive, via a short-range communication protocol over a dedicated secure communication channel, a request from a second client device to open a communication session with the first client device, the request including identification information for the second client device and an indication of the airline application executing on the second client device;
• determine whether the second client device has permission to access a mesh network for communicating the airline data peer-to-peer based on one or more of:
• (i) the dedicated secure communication channel over which the request is received, (ii) the identification information for the second client device, or (iii) the indication of the airline application executing on the second client device;
• in response to determining that the second client device has permission to access the mesh network, provide the airline data from the local database to the second client device via the mesh network to synchronize the second client device with the airline data stored at the first client device.