FAA Plans Evaluation of Space-Based ADS-B

The FAA next year plans to begin an evaluation of satellite-aided surveillance of aircraft flying in the Caribbean region, including use of the Aireon space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system. The agency expects several airlines will participate in the evaluation, which eventually could lead to reduced aircraft separations in FAA-controlled oceanic airspace.

Progress toward an operational evaluation, the result of more than two years of FAA study into the benefits of enhanced surveillance in oceanic airspace, was revealed during the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) annual meeting in early October. An oceanic capability would complement the FAA’s ground-based ADS-B surveillance system that is expected to prevail in U.S. domestic airspace beginning in 2020.

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