U.S. Approves ADS-B Equipment Standards

Dec 2, 2009

Technical and operational standards for automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) equipment have been approved, paving the way for April 2010 publication of the FAA's final rule mandating ADS-B equipage in controlled airspace by 2020.

Standards body RTCA has now approved the minimum operational performance standards (MOPS), and the FAA has already signed the related technical standard orders (TSO), said Vincent Capezzuto, FAA director of surveillance and broadcast services.

Approval of the MOPS and TSOs gives vendors and operators assurance that the equipment meeting those standards will fulfil the requirements of the ADS-B rule. The new DO-260B standard for 1090MHz ADS-B has been harmonized with Europe, he said.

ADS-B surveillance services became operational at UPS Airlines' Louisville, Kentucky, hub in October, with initial operational capability in the Gulf of Mexico planned for this month, followed by Philadelphia and Juno, Alaska, by April 2010.

The in-service decision on ADS-B surveillance services is on track for September 2010. Capezutto says prime contractor ITT has already installed 50 ground-station radios, and will have more than 320 deployed nationwide by the end of 2010.

The final rule will mandate only "ADS-B Out" equipage for FAA surveillance services, but this will provide the infrastructure for the "ADS-B In" cockpit applications that are expected to generate safety and efficiency benefits for airlines and other operators.

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