Enhanced LDACS system having roaming agreements and associated methods

A network broker for an enhanced L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) comprising a plurality of LDACS ground stations assigned to respective different ground communication networks;

• and a plurality of LDACS airborne stations configured to communicate with selected ones of the LDACS ground stations based upon respective roaming agreements for the different ground communication networks;
• the network broker comprising:
• a processor and an associated memory configured to
• authorize a connection between an LDACS airborne station and an LDACS ground station based upon a corresponding roaming agreement,
• transact roaming costs per the corresponding roaming agreement, and
• provide a corresponding level of service, from among a plurality of different levels of service, based upon the corresponding roaming agreement.

A method of operating an enhanced L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) comprising a plurality of LDACS ground stations assigned to respective different ground communication networks;

• and a plurality of LDACS airborne stations configured to communicate with selected ones of the LDACS ground stations based upon respective roaming agreements for the different ground communication networks, the method comprising:
• operating a network broker to
• authorize a connection between an LDACS airborne station and an LDACS ground station based upon a corresponding roaming agreement,
• transact roaming costs per the corresponding roaming agreement, and
• provide a corresponding level of service, from among a plurality of different levels of service, based upon the corresponding roaming agreement.