Enhanced vhf link communications method

A method of air-to-ground communication, comprising:

• establishing a first air-to-ground data communication link with a first multi-frequency transceiver and a first ground station using a first frequency, wherein the first air-to-ground data communication link is a primary data communication link for the aircraft;
• and
• before determining that a handoff is needed, establishing a second air-to-ground data communication link with a second multi-frequency transceiver and a second ground station using a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency, by:
• transmitting a contact message from a second multi-frequency transceiver to the second ground station on the second frequency;
• and
• receiving a response with the second multi-frequency transceiver from the second ground station on the second frequency.

A communication system onboard an aircraft, comprising:

• a first multi-frequency transceiver coupled to a first antenna;
• a second multi-frequency transceiver coupled to a second antenna;
• and
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to a memory, the first multi-frequency transceiver, and the second multi-frequency transceiver;
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• establish a first air-to-ground data communication link with the first multi-frequency transceiver and a first ground station using a first frequency;
• determine that a handoff from the first frequency to a second frequency is needed, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency;
• and
• establish a second air-to-ground data communication link with the second multi-frequency transceiver and a second ground station using a second frequency, wherein the first air-to-ground data communication link is maintained until the second air-to-ground data communication link is successfully established.

A method of air-to-ground communication, comprising:

• establishing a first air-to-ground data communication link with a first multi-frequency transceiver and a first ground station using a first frequency;
• and
• determining that a handoff from the first frequency to a second frequency is needed, wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency;
• establishing a second air-to-ground data communication link with a second multi-frequency transceiver and a second ground station using a second frequency, wherein the first air-to-ground data communication link is maintained until the second air-to-ground data communication link is successfully established.