IEEE Std 1920.1 defines air-to-air communications for self-organized ad hoc aerial networks. It outlines the network service architecture, security framework, and data model. IEEE Std 1920.1 is agnostic to the type of network (Wireless or Cellular or other) and it is applicable to manned and unmanned, small and large, and civil and commercial aircraft systems. IEEE Std 1920.1 is the first in the series of IEEE P1920.X standards. It is anticipated that IEEE Std 1920.1 will be used as a foundation to define more specific standards in this series.

IEEE Std 1920.1 defines air-to-air communications over self-organized aerial ad hoc networks and describes the reference architecture for aerial networks, where aircraft can form a network to share information with one another with or without any supporting infrastructure, such as satellite or cellular communications. This standard is intended for RLOS and BRLOS small UASs used for civil and commercial applications. The architecture can also be extended to include additional platforms, making it a useful guide for other aircraft systems. The communications and networking standards are independent of the type of network (wireless, cellular, or other). The mai...

IEEE Std 1920.1 can contribute to aviation safety by providing for enhancing situational awareness of manned and unmanned aircraft in the shared airspace through air-to-air communications facilitated by an aerial ad hoc network. As UASs become increasingly integrated into the National Airspace (NAS), there is a corresponding need for technology systems to provide enhanced situational awareness of all aircraft operating in the shared airspace. IEEE Std 1920.1 also provides a means of compliance for the network remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems, to provide information to distinguish compliant UAS users from those potentially posing aviation se...