Safety Benefit of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Traffic and Weather Uplink Services

Abstract

The automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast system serves a dual role for general aviation operators, allowing integration with modern surveillance systems and providing an uplink of traffic, weather, and airspace information to participating aircraft. To obtain automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast uplink services, aircraft must be equipped with a portable or installed "automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast-in" receiver and display. This study used an online survey to assess pilot perception and valuation of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast-in traffic and weather services, including flight information system-broadcast and traffic information system-broadcast. Of the 1407 pilot respondents to the survey, 56.3% indicated having used automatic dependent surveillancebroadcast-in traffic and weather services while operating an aircraft. Among pilots who reported using automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast-in traffic services regularly, 64.5% reported that it helped them visually acquire traffic and 42.2% felt that the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast uplink had provided information that helped prevent a midair collision. A strong link was observed between pilot satisfaction with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast-in traffic information and concurrent equipage with "automatic dependent surveillancebroadcast out." Pilots also reported using automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast-in weather and airspace services to improve inflight decision making, such as evaluating options for rerouting, changing altitude, or diverting to alternate airports.

On Perception and Reality in Wireless Air Traffic Communication Security

“…It is worth noting that a survey-based analysis is an accepted tool in aviation research. For example, the authors in [33] recently used it to analyze the safety of the FIS-B protocol.…”