ADS-B Program Enables NextGen Air Transportation

The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) Program is targeted at significantly improving the safety and efficiency of the U.S. commercial and general aviation enterprise. ADS-B involves digital messages transmitted by aircraft to radio stations as well as other aircraft. Radio stations also broadcast radar, weather, and other data from the National Airspace System (NAS) to create a robust aviation information network. ADS-B is one of two existing major programs that will enable the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

The FAA Surveillance and Broadcast Services Office manages the implementation of ADS-B, establishes standards and rules for aircraft and ground equipment systems, and manages the development of radio stations and their integration into the NAS. The Volpe Center provides key support to the FAA by performing technical tasks and managing a team of 120 engineers, operational specialists and analysts.

Volpe Center engineers developed and maintain the Midwest Prototype ADS-B system that is being used to obtain initial measures of ADS-B benefits as well as reduce the risk of the ADS-B system deployment. The Volpe Center is demonstrating that ADS-B provides controllers with surveillance information that supports current separation standards in the enroute areas.

The Volpe Center also leads the program's information and physical security work. Initial ADS-B application regions demonstrate new operational capabilities. In the Gulf of Mexico, the Volpe Center was instrumental in the selection of and negotiation for deployment sites on oil exploration and production platforms. Because radars cannot "see" across the Gulf, it has been treated as Oceanic airspace with aircraft separation minimums of 10 to 15 minutes. With ADS-B radio stations located on petroleum platforms, separations of 1 to 2 minutes will be achieved.

Atlantis, is a floating oil and gas production facility operated by British Petroleum in the Gulf of Mexico and the site of an ADS-B VHF Communication Radio Transceiver as well as an Automated Weather Observation System Station. (Volpe Center photo)