ADS-B
Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Aviation
| Stands for | Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast |
|---|---|
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
ADS-B stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, an aviation abbreviation.
Surveillance technology in which an aircraft determines its position by GPS and broadcasts it, with altitude, velocity and identity, about once per second to ground stations and other aircraft. Since January 1, 2020, ADS-B Out has been required in most US airspace where a transponder is needed.
Example: Flight-tracking sites such as Flightradar24 rely heavily on volunteer receivers that pick up ADS-B signals.
Usage notes
"Automatic" because it needs no pilot input; "dependent" because it relies on the aircraft's own navigation source. In the US, aircraft flying below 18,000 feet may use the 978 MHz UAT link, while airliners use 1090 MHz extended squitter. ADS-B In lets equipped cockpits display traffic and free weather. Satellite-based receivers now track aircraft over oceans.
Related abbreviations
More aviation abbreviations
- A&P – Airframe and powerplant
- ACARS – Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System
- ACC – Area control centre
- ADF – Automatic direction finder
- ADIZ – Air defense identification zone
- AGL – Above ground level
- AIM – Aeronautical Information Manual
- AIRMET – Airmen's Meteorological Information
- AME – Aircraft maintenance engineer
- AOG – Aircraft on ground
- AP – Autopilot
- APU – Auxiliary power unit