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| Alaska ADS-B coverage at 5,000 feet. Photo: AOPA |
[Avionics Today 08-22-2016] The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is calling on general aviation operators in Alaska that have equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment, to help make the case to expand the network coverage in Alaska.
The system is designed to improve situational awareness for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations and to help Air Traffic Control (ATC) provide traffic separation for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft. It also offers a stream of aviation weather data, and other information to come directly to the pilot’s cockpit whenin range of a ground station. But the AOPA believes the current network of ground stations in Alaska “leaves a lot to be desired.”
The organization is looking to prepare a “business case” for the FAA to invest in further infrastructure in the state.
“[The FAA is] currently re-evaluating the needs for ADS-B coverage in Alaska, and if they can find sufficient need to justify it, we could see an expansion of the ground station network,” the AOPA said in a statement.
The AOPA is encouraging GA operators to reach out to provide the following information: if your aircraft is equipped; where you operate that does not have ADS-B coverage today and; what kinds of flying you do — activities like commercial operations, medevac, aerial data collection, guiding, game surveys, recreation, etc.
“The more evidence of need by the aviation community they can document, the better chance of making a positive business case to expand the network,” the AOPA said.