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ADS-B

Asked by: 13372 views Aircraft Systems, General Aviation

In the "ADS-B Out" equipped airplane I fly, traffic information is provided on the moving map GPS display. What traffic am I actually seeing? Is it only other ADS-B equipped aircraft, or all primary/secondary radar returns? Why am I seeing any traffic at all, I thought traffic information was only available in an "ADS-B In" equipped airplane? Also, why do I only get traffic information when I remain in the vicinity of Class B airspace (in my case, SoCal approach control airspace)? When I venture further afield traffic information is no longer available on the moving map GPS. Thanks in advance for any clarification you could provide.

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1 Answers



  1. Wes Beard on Sep 16, 2013

    ADS-B will transmit your GPS location and other flight information like tail number, airspeed, heading and altitude. It transmits this information in one communication at a specific time internal. This allows other ADS-B UART systems to transmit their data on the same frequency. Any airplane that can receive this information will display the airplane on their traffic screen.

    It sound like your airplane is equipped with a traffic information system (TIS). This technology uses a Mode S datalink with a radar control system (SoCal, in your case) and you see all the traffic the radar screen is showing irrespective if the other airplane has a Mode S transponder. If you get too low in altitude or too far from the radar transmitter you will lose traffic. The technology requires line-of-sight to operate correctly.

    Aim 4-5-6 has good information on the TIS system and a national map showing where TIS coverage is currently.

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