A method of communicating between a rotary wing platform and a ground terminal via a satellite. The method comprises, at the rotary wing platform, receiving a forward link signal transmitted by the satellite; on the basis of the received forward link signal, estimating at least one obstruction characteristic associated with obstruction of a signal transmission path between the rotary wing platform and the satellite by one or more blades of the rotary wing platform; determining a plurality of time periods during which the at least one obstruction characteristic indicates that the signal transmission path will not be obstructed by the one or more blades of the rotary wing platform; and transmitting to the satellite a bursted carrier return link signal comprising a plurality of bursts, wherein each burst in the plurality of bursts is transmitted during one of the determined time periods.