Avionics News June 2022 - 35

hardware, this pilot dropped his subscription-weather
service.
" That saved me about $600 a year I used to pay for
a weekend getaway with my wife, " he noted.
He added that the experience of using ADS-B In
has him looking at another avionics upgrade to add a
monitor and relegate his tablet to the electronic flight
bag duty, the reason he bought the tablet. Another
pilot, flying a starter aircraft, met the mandate with
a basic Out system - while using a tablet for what he
" really wanted " in the plane: traffic and weather.
" My plane is worth about $25,000 when it's been
washed and freshly waxed, " he explained, making the
cost of ADS-B In a deal he wanted. " In the area near
my home field, there's enough traffic to make getting
an instrument clearance a little nerve wracking. The
TIS-B isn't exactly real time, but it beats depending
on ATC alone to keep us separated. "
Weather -
where you are and where you're going
Like many pilots sampled at this year's Sun 'n
Fun Aerospace Expo, traffic input helps keep him
informed - and more relaxed when navigating out the
busy Class B airspace over his home airport.
" Once beyond the 30-mile ring, the trafficreporting
function stays in the background while the
weather feed stays on the screen. "
Asked by the latency issue inherent to the delivery
system, he was well-acquainted.
" I watch the time stamp and let it guide my
decision-making when exercising weather
avoidance, " the pilot offered. " While I know it's
not real time, it's close enough for a 100-knot pilot
flying a 100-knot aircraft. But what really makes it
useful and usable is how it lets me look hundreds
of miles ahead to weather along my route and at my
destination. My old system lacked that ability. "
From the many conversations at Sun 'n Fun, it felt
like ADS-B In continues to make new converts. And
costs play a big role in those conversions.
" It feels free, and aside from the cost of the tablet
I use - for ADS-B In and as an electronic flight bag -
it pretty much is. "
So how popular is ADS-B In?
As noted above, the MIT study was intended to
evaluate potential benefits of ADS-B In traffic and
weather services, and the data confirms the incockpit
tools provided by ADS-B as the key to its
rapid popularity.
According to the report, respondents commonly
used ADS-B In flight information (weather, airspace,
and other system information) as a resource when
changing altitude or rerouting. Some respondents
also reported occasions where the knowledge that
they would receive this information in the air
influenced their decision to take off (in situations
where they otherwise might not have). Therefore,
for at least some pilots, ADS-B In flight information
services appeared to influence the traditional go/nogo
decision process.
For respondents who had not flown with ADS-B
In, 53% indicated that they were planning to equip
in the future. Common reasons for not equipping
included the high cost of the technology and the
availability of alternative services. As the technology
becomes more widespread, it expected that the cost
of equipment will decrease. Based on these survey
results, not all pilots are simply holding out for
lower prices - 10% of respondents with no ADS-B
In experience cited mistrust of the technology or
general lack of interest as reasons for not using the
services.
The MIT study concluded with this: " This study
showed that ADS-B In traffic has provided increased
situational awareness for pilots operating in VFR
environments, such as congested traffic patterns, as
well as in IFR environments as a backup for ATC
separation services and traffic advisories. ADS-B
In flight information services have clearly impacted
pilot decision-making in the air, with occasional
benefits prior to takeoff by impacting go/no-go
decisions. The availability of ADS-B uplink services
is changing the way that pilots fly. It is a push toward
independence in the cockpit, enabling pilots to use
state-of-the-art technology to enhance flight safety. "
It's apparent that ADS-B In enjoys significant
support and use, and as more pilots gain experience
with ADS-B In, we should start to see safety
improvements from the use of ADS-B In's tools.
Given how frequently cited TIS-B is for helping
pilots avoid a midair collision, it's likely ADS-B
In will continue to attract new users and, in time,
influence a downward trend in aviation accidents. q
To see the complete report from MIT referenced in
this article, visit https://bit.ly/3y62e8O.
avionics news * june 2022 35
https://bit.ly/3y62e8O
Avionics News June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News June 2022
