Various embodiments include methods for dynamic antenna steering on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The methods may include orienting an antenna on the UAV towards a serving ground station based on the UAV's position, orienting the antenna towards a neighboring ground station when it is time to conduct signal measurements of the neighboring ground station, conducting the signal measurements while orienting the antenna towards the neighboring ground station, and reorienting the antenna towards the serving ground station. Methods further include orienting a ground station antenna towards a UAV by obtaining a position of the UAV, calculating a vector between the position of the UAVs and the ground station, determining a direction to steer a beam based on the calculated vector, and steering the beam to the determined direction for the UAV.