Your EC device most likely sees a lot less traffic than you think

It is estimated that XX% of EC-equipped GA in the UK are only operating a Mode-S transponder, therefore not visible to ADS-B IN

A VFR pilot in the UK who uses some form of Electronic Conspicuity device as a solution to enhance the ability to “see and be seen” should be warned that such a solution can work only as a secondary aid to enhance visual scan in a certain direction.

Traffic may not show through your EC device because of either:

  • Signal obscuration (e.g. due to terrain/range/altitude/placement in the cockpit).

  • Incompatibility of the transmitter and the receiver ( e.g. ADS-B IN devices will not “see” signals transmitted by low-cost EC operating on unlicensed frequencies or MODE-S transponders as their signals do not contain position information).

That problem may be significantly improved through the following approaches:

  • Wider adoption of permanent or portable ADS-B OUT equipment, although costly to individuals.

  • Re-transmitting of positions of aircraft through ground infrastructure stations on protected frequencies that can be received by ADS-B IN devices, also known as TIS-B (Traffic Information Service – Broadcast).

This project is supported by the UK CAA and aims to:

  • Investigate how TIS-B is received and displayed on COTS onboard technology and if it may significantly improve the situational awareness of VFR pilots about other traffic.

  • Engage with the GA community to provide feedback on their opinion as well as experiences of the live TIS-B transmissions .

Please review the sections listed at the top in order to:

  • Get a complete understanding of the current state of EC in the UK and reasoning for this research study.

  • Complete Questionnaire A to share your views on the technology in general and Questionnaire B to provide feedback on your experience of live transmissions.