Aircraft communications system with satellite network 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 satellite transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs;
• and
• at least one network selection controller for selecting a satellite among said plurality of satellites so that data communications is sent to the PEDs through said satellite transceiver based on a needed channel capacity of the data communications to be sent.

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 satellite transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs;
• and
• an aircraft-based network selection controller for selecting a satellite among the plurality of satellites so that data communications is sent to the PEDs through said satellite transceiver based on a needed channel capacity of the data communications to be sent.