AOPA Satisfied with ADS-B Introduction along U.S. East Coast

The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) is expressing satisfaction with the FAA's introduction of ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast), along with its concurrent broadcasted flight and traffic information (FIS-B and TIS-B), along a part of the U.S. East Coast and Florida.  Portions of Arizona and North Dakota, where there are large flight schools, and a substantial part of Alaska, also have the service.

At least one AOPA official sees the technology mainly as a boon to flight safety – as opposed to airspace efficiency – at least for now.  Randy Kenagy, AOPA's senior director of advanced technology, says on the organization's Website, that, "Allowing pilots to voluntarily equip their general aviation aircraft with ADS-B is a positive step toward bringing modern technology into the NAS (National Airspace System).  Some staff at the FAA would eventually like to use ADS-B in place of radar, but the big benefit to general aviation is the free weather and traffic."

The FAA issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) on April 14 to announce that many, but not all, of its ADS-B, FIS-B and TIS-B services are available for pilots flying appropriately equipped aircraft between Florida and New Jersey.  For now, ADS-B aircraft-to-aircraft and aircraft-to-ground position information, and ADS-B enabled broadcast services are being offered in these lower-forty-eight state regions, but ADS-B air traffic surveillance services are only offered in Alaska.

Regions of "Lower" U.S. Where ADS-B Service Is Available

Source: FAA