"Air traffic in Europe is expected to double by 2025 according to the last forecast of Eurocontrol. Future passenger and freight fleets will bring better efficiency and improved environmental performance, and will allow people to benefit from the connections that only air transport can deliver. In this context, an integrated aircraft communication system is of paramount importance to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness by ensuring flexibility, scalability, modularity and reconfigurability. The SANDRA project will design, implement and validate through in-flight trials an integrated aeronautical communications system based on an open architecture, a common set of interfaces and on well-proven industry standards. Integration will be addressed at four different levels, namely: • integration at service level, through a Service Oriented architectural approach • integration at network level through addressing interoperability to ensure transition • integration of existing radio technologies into an Integrated Modular Radio platform (Software Defined) • integration at antenna and RF level by a L/KU satellite array antenna prototype The integration of different service domains with heterogeneous requirements through a cost-effective and flexible avionic architecture is thus one of the main challenges addressed by SANDRA. In this light, the SANDRA communication system will represent a key enabler for meeting the high market demand for broadband passenger and enhanced cabin communication services. The SANDRA concept is fully inline with SESAR activity and future deployment plans ATM modernisation as well as with the final recommendations of Eurocontrol/FAA Future Communications Study. SANDRA addresses many of the enablers identified by SESAR for the medium and long term implementation packages, although the proposed integrated approach for the global provision of distributed services covers a much broader set of applications and service domains."