Systems and methods for collecting aircraft data from aircrafts within proximity of one another while in-flight are provided. In one embodiment, the method can include receiving, by a first aircraft, a first transmission from a second aircraft. The first transmission can include first data associated with the second aircraft. The method can include determining a communication time period based, at least in part, on the first data. The method can include sending, to the second aircraft, a second transmission that can include second data indicative of at least the communication time period. The method can include receiving, from the second aircraft, one or more third transmissions that can include third data indicative of one or more parameters of the second aircraft. A size of the third data can be based, at least in part, on the communication time period.