Dynamic flight tracking system using airborne communications and ground data services

Abstract

A system for dynamic flight tracking of an aircraft comprises a ground center configured to communicate with a flight tracking application onboard an aircraft, wherein the flight tracking application is preloaded with default flight tracking preferences comprising a normal time rate interval for sending normal condition position reports to the ground center when a flight condition is normal; abnormal time rate intervals for sending abnormal condition position reports to the ground center when abnormal flight conditions are detected, with the abnormal time rate intervals less than the normal time rate interval; and abnormal flight condition criteria to determine which aircraft conditions to monitor for detecting abnormal flight conditions. The ground center receives flight tracking communications from the aircraft for monitoring flight conditions to determine if the aircraft is encountering abnormal flight conditions, and is operative to send an uplink request to the aircraft to change the default flight tracking preferences.