Aircraft Conspicuity

See and be seen in your helicopter with ADS-B and other tech

Conspicuity systems for recreational pilots are designed to enhance the visibility of an aircraft to other pilots, ground personnel, and air traffic controllers, reducing the risk of mid-air collisions and other accidents. These systems can be divided into two categories: active and passive.

Active Conspicuity Systems

These systems actively transmit information about the aircraft’s position, altitude, and other relevant data to surrounding aircraft and air traffic control systems.

• ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast): A GPS-based system that broadcasts an aircraft’s position, altitude, and velocity to nearby aircraft and ATC. ADS-B is becoming more common in general aviation, and in some regions, it’s mandatory for certain types of aircraft.
• Transponders: Devices that transmit an aircraft’s identification, altitude, and sometimes position when interrogated by radar systems. They are commonly used in general aviation and may be required in certain controlled airspace.
• FLARM (Flight Alarm System): A traffic awareness and collision avoidance system specifically designed for general aviation and gliders. It uses GPS and radio signals to share position data between participating aircraft and provides collision warnings. The founders of Helipaddy were early adopters of FLARM in their R66.
• Traffic Information Service (TIS): A ground-based service that provides traffic information to aircraft equipped with a Mode S transponder. TIS alerts pilots to nearby traffic, giving them a better understanding of their surroundings.
• Mobile devices: any smart phone or tablet can also act as a conspicuity device. SafeSky, for example, relies on app users sharing position data via the app.

Passive Conspicuity Systems

These systems rely on the aircraft’s visibility to others, either visually or by reflecting radar signals.

• Aircraft Lighting: Navigation lights, strobe lights, and anti-collision lights can help increase an aircraft’s visibility to other pilots, especially during low light conditions or at night.
• High-Visibility Paint and Markings: Bright colors, contrasting patterns, and reflective materials can make an aircraft more visible to other pilots and ground personnel.
• Radar Reflectors: Devices that enhance an aircraft’s radar signature, making it more detectable by radar systems. These can be particularly helpful for smaller aircraft or those made of materials that don’t reflect radar signals well.

ADS-B and TIS explained further

ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) and TIS (Traffic Information Service) are both systems designed to enhance situational awareness and safety in aviation. However, they differ significantly in terms of their operation, data sources, and the way they provide information to pilots.

1. How ADS-B works: ADS-B is a satellite-based system that uses GPS technology to determine an aircraft’s position, altitude, and velocity. Each aircraft equipped with an ADS-B Out transmitter periodically broadcasts this information, along with its unique identification code, to other aircraft and air traffic control (ATC) systems. Aircraft equipped with ADS-B In receivers can receive this information from nearby aircraft, allowing them to maintain awareness of other traffic in their vicinity. ATC also uses this data to manage and separate aircraft more efficiently.
   
2. How TIS works: TIS is a ground-based service provided by ATC radar systems. It collects radar data on aircraft in a specific airspace and sends traffic information to aircraft equipped with a Mode S transponder. The radar system interrogates the transponder, which responds with its identification and altitude information. The ATC then processes this data and sends traffic information back to the aircraft. TIS does not rely on GPS, and it’s limited to areas covered by the radar systems providing the service.

Key differences between ADS-B and TIS

a. Data Source: ADS-B uses GPS data to determine the aircraft’s position, whereas TIS relies on ground-based radar systems.

b. Information Exchange: ADS-B broadcasts information directly from one aircraft to another and to ATC, while TIS requires the aircraft to communicate with ATC to receive traffic information.

c. Coverage: ADS-B has a global coverage potential due to its reliance on satellite-based GPS technology. In contrast, TIS is limited to areas covered by radar systems providing the service.

d. Required Equipment: ADS-B requires an ADS-B Out transmitter and a compatible ADS-B In receiver to receive information from other aircraft. TIS requires a Mode S transponder to receive traffic information from ATC radar systems.

e. Future of Air Traffic Management: ADS-B is considered the future of air traffic management and is being widely adopted globally. TIS, while still in use, is being phased out in favor of ADS-B in many regions due to its limitations and reliance on ground-based radar infrastructure.

How do online flight trackers see me?

Flight tracking systems determine the position of an aircraft using a combination of technologies and data sources. The most common methods are:

1. ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast): Modern aircraft are often equipped with ADS-B transmitters that broadcast position, altitude, velocity, and other relevant data obtained from the aircraft’s GPS system. ADS-B receivers on the ground or in other aircraft can pick up these signals and use the information to track the aircraft in real-time.
   
2. Radar: Air traffic control (ATC) uses primary and secondary radar systems to track aircraft. Primary radar works by emitting radio signals and detecting the reflected signals off the aircraft’s surface. Secondary radar relies on transponders installed in aircraft. The radar interrogates the transponder, which replies with identification, altitude, and sometimes position data.
   
3. Multilateration: This technique uses multiple ground-based receivers to pick up transponder signals from an aircraft. By measuring the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of the signals at each receiver, the aircraft’s position can be calculated with high accuracy.
   
4. Satellite Tracking: Some aircraft are equipped with satellite-based tracking systems like Iridium or Inmarsat that transmit position data to ground stations via satellite. This method is especially useful in areas with limited radar or ADS-B coverage, such as over oceans or remote regions.
   
5. MLAT (Multilateration) with Mode S data: In areas where ADS-B coverage is limited, MLAT can be used with Mode S transponder data to determine an aircraft’s position. This method requires at least four ground stations to receive the aircraft’s Mode S Squitter, which includes the aircraft’s unique ICAO address, and uses the time difference in receiving the signals to calculate the position.

What is Mode S and Mode S Squitter?

Mode S, which stands for “Mode Select,” is a type of aviation transponder communication protocol used for aircraft surveillance and communication. The name “Mode Select” highlights its capability to selectively address and communicate with individual aircraft, providing more efficient and targeted communication compared to earlier transponder modes, such as Mode A and Mode C.

The development of Mode S aimed to overcome the limitations and congestion issues of the earlier transponder modes. Mode S transponders were designed to reduce radio frequency interference, enable selective interrogation by air traffic control (ATC) radar systems, and provide additional data capabilities for improved surveillance and communication.

Some key features of Mode S include:

1. Selective Interrogation: Mode S transponders allow ATC radar systems to selectively interrogate individual aircraft, reducing interference and congestion on radio frequencies.
   
2. Unique ICAO Address: Each Mode S transponder is assigned a unique 24-bit ICAO address, which enables precise identification and tracking of individual aircraft.
   
3. Enhanced Data Capabilities: Mode S transponders can transmit additional data, such as altitude, position, or intent, depending on their specific capabilities.
   
4. Squitter Transmissions: Mode S transponders can periodically broadcast their ICAO address and other data without radar interrogation, enhancing air-to-ground and air-to-air communication.
   
5. Compatibility with ADS-B: Mode S transponders are compatible with the ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) system, which relies on GPS data to provide more accurate position information for better aircraft surveillance and communication.

The name “Mode S” reflects the selective nature of this communication protocol and its evolution from earlier transponder modes, offering more efficient and targeted communication in modern aviation.