Requirements

• Comprehensive Coverage, Including Cabins

  • Wi-Fi must be available across all airport areas—hangars, aprons, terminals, and aircraft interiors. Key challenges include:
    • Complex Site Environment: Cabin coverage is particularly challenging due to the metallic structure of the fuselage, which blocks most Wi-Fi signals. Directional antenna APs must be strategically placed (e.g., walls in hangars and boarding bridges) to focus RF energy into the cabin.
    • Installation Limitations: The placement of APs in hangars, boarding bridges, and terminals is often subject to restrictions due to structural and operational factors. It is essential to have a careful planning and select appropriate AP models for optimal coverage. In outdoor areas such as aprons, high masts are typically the best locations for mounting APs to achieve extensive coverage. However, these high masts often lack fiber backhaul connectivity. In such cases, deploying a fixed wireless backhaul solution becomes crucial to ensure consistent connectivity and performance across the airport.

• Support for Diverse Applications, including

  • Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO)
    • Real-time data upload and download for aircraft inspection and maintenance records.
    • Access to technical manuals and documentation.
  • Ground Crew Operations
    • Communication tools for coordination among ground staff.
    • Tracking and monitoring of ground support equipment (GSE), e.g. tractors, trucks, and loaders.
  • IoT Applications
    • Sensor data collection for monitoring aircraft systems (e.g., temperature, pressure).
    • Environmental monitoring in hangars and terminals.
  • Autonomous Vehicles
    • Data transfer and communication for autonomous ground vehicles and robotics.
    • Coordination between automated systems and human operators.
  • CCTV and Security Systems
    • Live video streaming from surveillance cameras for security monitoring.
  • Passenger Wi-Fi Services
    • Live video streaming from surveillance cameras for security monitoring.
    • Streaming services and entertainment options for in-flight connectivity.

• Interference Control and Mitigation

  • The Wi-Fi network must handle high-density usage without interfering with other radio systems. In apron areas, radar systems are operational. The Wi-Fi system must avoid using the DFS channels utilized by these radar systems to ensure uninterrupted aerial operations. It is advisable to conduct a thorough site survey and implement effective channel planning during the network design phase.

• High Reliability for Mission-Critical Applications

  • The Wi-Fi network should be designed with high availability, including coverage redundancy and dual backhaul links for fail-safe connectivity.

• Robust Security

  • With various types of applications connected to the network, it is critical to safeguard data from malicious attacks. The network should be well protected with the latest industry standards and features, e.g. WPA3 and 802.1X for access control, AES for data encryption, VLANs for network segmentation, and WIPS for intrusion prevention.

• Seamless Roaming

  • The network design must facilitate seamless roaming, allowing ground crew and maintenance personnel to maintain connectivity while moving throughout the airport.

Why Choose Altai

• Super WiFi Coverage by Altai Smart Antenna Technology

  • Thanks to the patented antenna design and signal processing algorithms, Altai’s solutions effectively overcome Wi-Fi bottlenecks and enhance uplink performance in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environments. This optimization allows for a reduced number of APs while minimizing self-interference, lowering capital and operational expenditures.

• Service Level Assurance (SLA) with Altai AlwaysConnected Solution

  • The Altai AlwaysConnected feature employs a proprietary redundancy protocol that ensures optimal wireless link performance with failover capabilities for business-critical applications. This guarantees continuous connectivity and minimizes disruptions.

• Advanced Radio Resource Management with Altai Smart Load Balancing

  • Altai APs work collaboratively to distribute traffic load among wireless devices, delivering optimal performance for a wide range of applications. This solution effectively addresses the “sticky client” issue commonly found in traditional Wi-Fi networks, ensuring smooth operations in high-mobility environments.

• Industry-Standard Cybersecurity Protection

  • At Altai, security is a top priority. The integration of the Check Point Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) with the AltaiGate 510 network controller delivers comprehensive end-to-end protection against potential cyber threats. This advanced security framework ensures the integrity and confidentiality of data, enabling operations to proceed with confidence in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.

• Built with Industrial Grade Hardware

  • Altai APs are engineered to withstand demanding outdoor conditions. With an IP67 weatherproof rating, high wind survival capabilities, resilience to extreme temperatures, and surge protection, these devices are designed for robustness, making them ideal for extensive outdoor apron areas.

Application – 1) Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) in Hangars

Wi-Fi connectivity is crucial for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations in aircraft hangars, as it enables real-time data access and communication among maintenance personnel. With reliable Wi-Fi, technicians can efficiently upload and download critical information, such as maintenance records and technical manuals, directly on-site. This seamless access to information not only streamlines workflows but also enhances safety and compliance by ensuring that personnel have the most up-to-date data while conducting inspections and repairs.

Deploying Wi-Fi in hangars poses significant challenges, particularly in achieving reliable coverage within aircraft cabins. The metallic structure of aircraft obstructs Wi-Fi signals, complicating connectivity inside the cabin. Additionally, high ceilings and large equipment in hangars limit the placement of access points (APs), resulting in inconsistent signal strength and potential coverage gaps that can hinder MRO operations.

To tackle these challenges, Altai recommends high-gain directional antenna with strategic AP placements on walls to enhance signal penetration into aircraft cabins through windows and access doors. Furthermore, repeaters can be installed on working platforms beside the aircraft to further increase the chance of extending coverage into the aircraft.

Application – 3) Onboard Wi-Fi for Passengers

Wi-Fi is essential for enhancing travellers’ experience. Passengers rely on it for real-time flight status updates, remote work, and socializing with friends. Additionally Online surveys enable them to provide feedback or report issues to airport management, facilitating prompt responses and continuous service improvements.

However, providing Wi-Fi in terminal buildings presents challenges due to high user capacity and elevated ceiling heights. Inside the aircraft, obtaining reliable Wi-Fi connectivity in the cabin can also be difficult due to the metallic structure of the fuselage.

To address these challenges, Altai proposes the use of high-gain directional antennas for both terminal and cabin coverage. These antennas can be installed on ceilings to effectively cover the area, meeting the high user capacity requirement while minimizing interference. For cabin coverage, APs can be strategically placed on the exterior walls of boarding bridges, allowing the Wi-Fi signal to penetrate the aircraft through the windows, ensuring seamless connectivity for passengers.