The technology is already ripe for the next (third) generation of communication systems
in aviation and the unit cost of this equipment is ever decreasing. The next years will see
some decisive changes in aeronautical communications being driven by the availability of this
technology and also by the congestion and shortfalls in the legacy systems which are becoming
more exaggerated and exasperating every day. Also it is clear that a rationalization of all the
systems is required to simplify long term equipage. In contrast, we should not forget our
terrestrial mobile communications counterparts (public mobile services) which have already
