Physical optics analysis of the radiation pattern of an antenna mounted on an aircraft

This paper deals with the procedure to analyze the radiation pattern of a monopole antenna mounted on an aircraft using physical optics. We use a digital model of a turboprop machine and calculate the radiation pattern of the monopole antenna for different positions in order to verify the influence of the rotor blades on the radiation pattern. The results are of importance for channel models taking flight dynamics and local effects of the airplane into account. These play a prominent role if reliable communication links or positioning shall be simulated in extreme cases like aircraft banking turns.