INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A, B, and C airspace and operations above 10,000 feet
But there is a vast swath of U.S
mandatory zones defined under 14 CFR 91.225 and 91.227.These unequipped aircraft are precisely those most at risk: flying in rural,
uncontrolled airspace where traffic density is increasing due to the integration of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), ag operations, and
other low-level flight activities
Conspicuity (EC) offers a compelling and immediate solution
Unlike certified ADS-B Out systems, EC devices can be portable, cost-effective, and installed without modification to the aircraft
They can be turned on and off, powered by a USB port or battery, and broadcast anonymous 978 MHz UAT signals that can be received by other
objections to installing certified ADS-B Out systems
As voluntary systems, they respect pilot autonomy and operational needs
And because they broadcast anonymously, EC devices help guard against improper or non-safety uses of ADS-B data, such as enforcement actions
or landing fee assessments
evaluation.
The FAA Put It to the Test
In a recently released report, the FAA conducted a series of evaluations on portable EC systems,
using representative GA aircraft including a PA-18 Super Cub, a Cessna 172, and a Robinson R44
The tests examined antenna placement, airframe obstruction effects, and signal range, both on the ground and in flight
Aircraft with externally mounted antennas, particularly in vertical orientation, showed optimal coverage
Airframe shadowing was observed but never eliminated reception
the context of potential ATC use, the true value lies in air-to-air deconfliction
In rural, uncontrolled, and low-altitude airspace, EC provides precisely the capability that the unequipped majority of aircraft need.In
Pilots using portable ADS-B In receivers would be able to detect nearby traffic in time to see and avoid
That is the point.
Filling the Gaps the Mandate Leaves
ADS-B Out is required only in controlled, higher-density airspace
Portable EC helps fill that gap
And because these systems are voluntary, private, and affordable, they are deployable today without regulatory entanglement.
An Opening for
UAT Revival
As more certified aircraft transition to 1090 MHz transponders due to international compatibility and equipment modernization,
This opens the door for new uses, including portable EC for GA and low-power ADS-B Out solutions for UAS operations.With UAT spectrum seeing
declining use from certified aircraft, a new window opens
uncrewed aircraft.In the U.S., the pieces are aligning
And the FAA has now validated what EC advocates have long known: these devices work, and they work well.
See and Be Seen, Voluntarily
The
Portable EC provides an immediate safety enhancement in the very parts of the airspace that are currently underserved by existing
surveillance infrastructure
It offers a pathway to cooperative flight without mandates, without permanent installations, and without compromise.Source: uAvionix
