1090 ADS-B

[SMO]

I just installed a GTX 330D ES, replacing the standard 330 and adding the additional antenna. All is properly configured for ADS-B out. I have made a couple local flights with this - most of which are at about 1000' AGL. I am in a mountainous part of BC, Canada. I have gotten the PAPR report from Nav Canada which says all the ADS-B parameters have passed, however when I look on Flightaware I see much of my flight is missing. Flightaware just draws some straight lines from the last point it picked up to the next point it picks up, even though my flight took a different route to that next point.

Does anyone have any insight into why the PAPR report would fully pass but it seems some of the flight's data points are missing on Flightaware? I do understand that the missing points could be because I was shielded from the satellites due to the local terrain, but then why would the PAPR say it was 100%?

 

[Ryan Klems]

Nav Canada has access to the Aireon satellite data. To my knowledge Flightaware does not. They primarily rely on their network of feeders with ADS-B receivers, as well as some data feeds from the FAA. Not sure if they have any feeds from Nav Canada. The low altitude flight won't give you much chance for a feeder to pick up your signal (unless they happen to be very close to you).

 

[SMO]

Ok, that makes sense. Looking into this a bit more I see that Flightaware has a subscription based product that includes the Aireon data, but is quite expensive. Doesn't look like there is any free service using this data.

Do you, or anyone, know if I would need to jump through any other hoops to legally fly in controlled airspace in the U.S.?

 

[sansoneservices]

I just installed a GTX 330D ES, replacing the standard 330 and adding the additional antenna. All is properly configured for ADS-B out. I have made a couple local flights with this - most of which are at about 1000' AGL. I am in a mountainous part of BC, Canada. I have gotten the PAPR report from Nav Canada which says all the ADS-B parameters have passed, however when I look on Flightaware I see much of my flight is missing. Flightaware just draws some straight lines from the last point it picked up to the next point it picks up, even though my flight took a different route to that next point.

Does anyone have any insight into why the PAPR report would fully pass but it seems some of the flight's data points are missing on Flightaware? I do understand that the missing points could be because I was shielded from the satellites due to the local terrain, but then why would the PAPR say it was 100%?

This might be a shot in the dark.. I had a similar lack of FlightAware coverage. Example: blank portions of a flight in areas where previously had full coverage. Turned out the stubby belly antenna was loose

 

[SMO]

Hmm, I can double check that....

 

[Ryan Klems]

Do you, or anyone, know if I would need to jump through any other hoops to legally fly in controlled airspace in the U.S.?

No other hoops. Your GTX330DES is a perfectly acceptable ADS-B out solution for flying in the US.

 

[SMO]

Good stuff, thanks

 

[mandm]

Is ADSB still only required within the mode C bands or >10,000’ MSL?

A lot of areas do not have ADSB ground receivers so there will be no data in those remote areas.

Now however I do notice the information improves if you are on a IFR flight plan. Not sure about VFR flight plans as I rarely do those, and I don’t remember for flight following either.

 

[SMO]

In Canada ADS-B is required in Class B airspace which is above 12,500' MSL. The requirement for ADS-B in other airspace has been pushed out to at least 2028. There are no ground receivers in Canada, all ADS-B is satellite based.

 

[Flyxaos]

The requirement for ADS-B in other airspace has been pushed out to at least 2028

At the risk of going off topic... Does that mean I can fly my 978 mhz Uat equipped (not 1090) airplane in Canada as long as I stay below 12,500?

 

[SMO]

Correct, of course you still need a transponder for the Class C and D airspace around certain airports, but no ADS-B is required.

 

[John Collins]

In Canada ADS-B is required in Class B airspace which is above 12,500' MSL. The requirement for ADS-B in other airspace has been pushed out to at least 2028. There are no ground receivers in Canada, all ADS-B is satellite based.

I believe Canada has both Satellite and ground stations. There were ADS-B ground stations in the Hudson Bay area before the satellite system was adopted. Also, I understand that in the high density areas, there are some ground stations. Satellite is available over the entire country, but in the high density areas, there is a lot of frequency congestion that the satellites don't seem to handle well. The NavCanada PAPR report shows a measurement "PUI - 5 seconds(%)" which indicates the % of time that the aircraft ADS-B Out system was able to update its position within 5 second intervals. All the parameters indicate a pass/fail except for the PUI value, but discussing this with the NavCanada help desk, they said that it had to be at least 96.5% or the installation was not compliant. The PAPR guide also indicated that the PUI might be compromised in certain areas (shown graphically) due to 1090 congestion. Since the PAPR only indicates PUI to the nearest percent, that means you need it to be 97%. I have asked NavCanada to specify this in writing.

 

[SMO]

Just had my 330D check done by an Avionics shop in Kamloops, BC. They have done ADSB for a number of commercial aircraft and have some contacts inside Transport Canada. I asked about this PUI issue. The owner of the shop made a call to their contact, and the "unofficial" response was that the 96.5% parameter is nearly impossible to meet for aircraft flying below the flight levels, and their current thinking is that if I can get at least 50% I should be good. My numbers have ranged from 74% to 89% (the 89% from a half hour flight at 10,000) so I am not going to worry about this.