Aircraft communications switching system

A method for managing communications, the method comprising:

• receiving input for a communications operation from a user interface in an avionics system connected to an avionics interface via a wired bus;
• wherein the user interface comprises:
• a source field configured to select a source of communications for the communications operation;
• a destination field configured select a destination for the communications operation;
• and
• a radio assignments field configured to display a wireless communication unit in a plurality of wireless communications units that is available for the communications operation based on the selected source and destination;
• identifying the wireless communications unit displayed in the radio assignments field in a plurality of wireless communications units connected to a communications interface;
• and
• controlling operation of the wireless communications unit to perform the communications operation.

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of wireless communications units on an aircraft, the wireless communications units configured to be connected to a communication interface via a wired bus on the aircraft;
• and
• an avionics system on the aircraft, the avionics system configured to be connected to the communications avionics interface, the avionics system comprising a user interface;
• wherein the user interface comprises:
• a source field configured to select a source of communications for a communications operation;
• a destination field configured to select a destination for the communications operation;
• and
• a radio assignments field configured to display a wireless communications unit in the plurality of wireless communications units that is available for the communications operation based on the selected source and destination.