Aircraft communications during different phases of flight

A method for exchanging information between a source and an aircraft, the method comprising:

• responsive to a request to exchange the information between the aircraft and the source, using an optimization process in a computer system to continuously identify a number of aircraft to be used as a mobile network for sending microwave signals between the source and the aircraft, such that a number of aircraft are identified based on a first known location of the aircraft and a second known location of the source, and further wherein the number of aircraft are identified before sending the information between the aircraft and the source;
• using the optimization process in the computer system to continuously configure the number of identified aircraft for use as the mobile network, wherein continuously configuring forms a number of configured aircraft, and wherein the number of configured aircraft form the mobile network;
• and
• sending the microwave signals between the source and the aircraft using the mobile network, wherein the information is exchanged between the aircraft and the source using the microwave signals sent through the mobile network.