Free Essay - Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is an aviation surveillance system or technique whereby there is an automatic transmission of the exact location of an aircraft at any particular time as it cruises through the atmosphere (Ali et al., 2015). The surveillance function is automatic because it does not require any form of control or external stimulus and is independent due to its non-reliance on human control but rather on on-board systems. The transmission, provided through a data link, is derived from Position-fixing and onboard navigation systems. This way, it is possible for authorities at the control tower to identify the aircradt and at the same time have its four-dimensional position.

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The significance of ADS-B is that it enables officials on the ground at the airport to obtain information necessary for facilitating separation, spacing, and airborne traffic situation awareness, hence enhancing air-traffic safety. According to Ali et al. (2015), air traffic and aircraft control use the data relayed by the ADS-B to indicate the precise altitude or longitude at which the aircraft is cruising, velocity, and position and display this information on screens. The ADS-B is NextGen technology that is slated to transform aviation by improving the ability of people on the ground to keep up with what is happening to a plane or aircraft as it makes its ways through the skies. This way, the safety of passengers is ensured while at the same time keeping the air traffic under watch for any abnormality.

Further, ADS-B represents a shift from ground-based air traffic infrastructure to GPS or satellite-enabled systems. Bein automatic enables this surveillance technique to broadcast special position identification, emergency indication, track angle and ground speed, vertical rate of climb, altitudes, position accuracy and integrity, and flight identification. Also, ADS-B technology is used for air traffic control, flight information weather, and traffic services (Ali et al., 2015). It is the efficiency and safety features of ADS-B that make this surveillance system a breakthrough in air safety in the aviation industry.

My opinion on ADS-B is that it is an effective and important innovation in the aviation industry that will continue to ensure the safety of air control systems. With this kind of technology, it is now possible for air traffic control to virtually monitor what is happening aboard an aircraft through the transmission of data on aircraft location, velocity, identification, and latitude. Moreover, I think ADS-B technology is safer and more cost-effective, reliable, and efficient than the usual radar technique. However, it also thinks efforts should be made to ensure that the ADS-B technology has global interoperability and accessibility to ensure uniformity in air traffic safety.

Reference

Ali, B.S., Ochieng, W.Y., Schuster, W., Majumdar, A., & Chiew, T.K. (2015). A safety assessment framework for the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system. Safety Science, 78, 91-100. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2015.04.011