Look up ADS-B on Wikipedia. The system works by communicating directly with other ADS B units for traffic as well as displaying the "system" traffic and other information. An excerpt:
SafetyADS-B makes flying significantly safer for the aviation community. When using this system both pilots and controllers will see the same radar picture. With past systems such as the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) aircraft could only see other aircraft equipped with the same technology. With ADS-B, information is sent to aircraft using ADS-B In, which displays all aircraft in the area, even those not equipped with ADS-B technology. [edit]New services- Traffic - When using an ADS-B In system a pilot is able to pull up traffic information on surrounding aircraft. This information includes altitude, heading, speed, and distance to aircraft.
- Weather - Aircraft equipped with UAT ADS-B In technology will be able to receive weather reports, and weather radar through Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B).
- Terrain - ADS-B In technology, broadcasts a terrain overlay for pilots to view in the cockpit.
- Flight information - Not to be confused with FIS-B, Traffic Information Service-Broadcast (TIS-B) transmits readable flight information such as TFRs and NOTAMs to aircraft equipped with either UAT or 1090 Squitter ADS-B systems.
Recommend getting smart on this (and finding out where the current weather data is available, it's not conus wide yet) before spending a bucket of cash on a "legacy" system.
Bob R Scott,
Do I understand correctly that ADS-B traffic information comes via a ground station somewhere? How does that actually perform when you are in a valley somewhere?
I used to have TIS-B. I loved it when and where it worked but there were enough discrepancies + the fact that you had to have line of sight to the Radar facility that I was really enthusiastic about getting my ryan 9900BX. The very best thing about TIS-B is that it showed me how much traffic I wasn't seeing. However, the delay and coverage issues are real. One incident I had, I was at the range limit of the Sacramento facility when I saw a blip at less than two miles 10 O'clock. I looked up and there was a mooney headed straight at me. I dove to the right and no sooner than he had passed my tail, he disappeared off the screen. If I had been a mile further south I never would have seen him. Another incident: as I was going into Palo Alto I had several targets coming up at me. One was 12 O'clock and reported as 300' below me and climbing. I was about to climb when I spotted it already above me. That is where the delay was really a problem.
Dico,
IMO in a IVP you will be very happy to have an active system like the avidyne TAS 600 or 605. The former is only $8490 and you can install it yourself. The latter list is a little over $10,000. (You can probably find it cheaper....or you can find someone who is gaga over ADS-B and make them an offer....) You'll find it works much more reliably, regardless of geography and doesn't have the delay of going through a ground station. The 600 gives you coverage up to 18,500 above which you have radar separation because you will be IFR.
Colyn
Dico,
For the present and future, consider ADS-B.
Here is an example:
Scott Krueger
Hello
All,
Is there a good TCAS system available for our experimental
airplanes. I really like the skywatch systems with the 2 antennas..
however with the prices $10k - $15k, its pretty crazy high. The Zaon
systems are a bit to far on the other end of the scale and have
deadspots. Does anyone know of other good systems -- or if systems for
experimental planes are being developed? Or perhaps were we could get
one from a written off Cirrus or something that had a
system?
Thanks,
Dico
|