airground

Airground, also written air-ground, is a term used to describe the interface and interaction between airborne systems and ground facilities in aviation and related fields. The concept encompasses the communications, surveillance, navigation, and control links that connect aircraft with ground-based personnel and infrastructure.

In traditional aviation, air-ground systems include both voice and data communications between pilots and air traffic control, as well as ground-based navigation aids and surveillance sensors. Key elements are radio voice channels, data-link systems such as CPDLC, radar and ADS-B for airspace surveillance, weather information dissemination, and the network of ground control centers that provide routing, separation, and emergency handling. The air-ground interface supports flight planning, coordination during takeoff and landing, and real-time decision-making.

In unmanned aircraft operations, the air-ground interface refers to the connection between a ground control station and the unmanned aircraft, including telemetry, control commands, and sense-and-avoid data. Reliability, low latency, and cybersecurity are critical for safe operations, and procedures are in place for link loss, automatic return-to-home, and contingency operations.

Research and standards bodies address air-ground integration to improve safety and efficiency. Organizations such as ICAO, the FAA, and EASA develop operational concepts, performance requirements, and airspace rules. Ongoing developments include satellite-based surveillance, digital datalinks, and expanded data-sharing between ground facilities and airborne platforms, as well as applications in environmental sensing and air traffic management.