Aircraft communications system with satellite selection controller and associated method

A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft, the communications system comprising:

• a satellite-based communications network comprising a plurality of satellites;
• at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;
• a plurality of satellite antennas in the aircraft;
• a satellite transceiver coupled to said plurality of satellite antennas in the aircraft, and cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs;
• and
• at least one selection controller for selecting a satellite among said plurality of satellites, and for selecting a satellite antenna among said plurality of satellite antennas for the selected satellite.

An aircraft communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft with a satellite-based communications network comprising a plurality of satellites, the aircraft communications system comprising:

• at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;
• a plurality of satellite antennas in the aircraft;
• a satellite transceiver coupled to said plurality of satellite antennas in the aircraft, and cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs;
• and
• at least one selection controller for selecting a satellite among said plurality of satellites, and for selecting a satellite antenna among said plurality of satellite antennas for the selected satellite.