ADS-B: Are you ready?

The deadline for ADS-B is December 31,  2019. Are you ready?

What’s your answer? “I’ve already put in ADS-B” or “My aircraft doesn’t have an electrical system so I don’t need it” or “I don’t fly where a transponder is needed” or “I’m going to wait until the very last possible minute”.

Let me rephrase my question: Have you received the necessary ground and flight instruction to be safe with a new technology that requires your eyes to be inside the cockpit?

I attended an informative ADS-B Wings Seminar at the 2019 Hood River, OR fly-in hosted by the Western Antique Airplane and Automobile Museum. (WAAM) I walked away with a couple of thoughts. The first thought was that there’s still a lot of confusion about ADS-B: who needs it and where is it required? The FAA has a flow chart, a table and graphic of airspace requirements to help you. If you’re unsure contact your FSDO.

It’s the 2nd thought that I walked away with that’s the focus of this article. This new technology should require pilots to have ground and flight training. I remember a conversation that I had with my good friend’s father, who flew F4 Phantoms in the Air Force. He relayed a story that he would quite often have so much information coming at him that he would start to shut off systems, including his weapons officer intercom, so that he could focus on the mission of flying the aircraft to the target. The human brain can only process so much data.

I’m reminded of this story because of my first experience with using ADS-B “in” technology. I use the FlyQ EFB from Seattle Avionics. When my Dual GPS finally gave up the ghost, Seattle Avionics was having a special on their Merlin ADS-B “in” receiver. At the time it made a lot of sense, I got another year’s worth of IFR charts and an upgraded GPS system with AHRS capabilities, weather and traffic. The first time I went up in an aircraft to use it was on a severe clear, CAVU Saturday afternoon. I flew to the practice area to drill some holes in the sky, and make sure that the new Merlin system was working. After leaving Pearson airspace, approaching Battle Ground VOR, I casually looked down at my iPad and was instantly overwhelmed with information. I realized in short order my mind was spending too much time focusing on interpreting the data. I made a 180 degree turn back to the airport and landed.

I’m signed up with the FAA Safety Team to receive emails about local wings events and safety related news. I received an article concerning ADS-B. In summary, commercial operators in Alaska using ADS-B had a 55% less accident rate than those commercial operators who were not ADS-B equipped. The benefits are tremendous. However, to be safe and effective a Pilot needs proper training.

In VFR flying we talk about the 90/10 rule: 90% of your time should be spent looking outside and 10% of the time should be looking inside the cockpit. For example, 30 seconds outside and three seconds inside. If two standard general aviation airplanes are approaching head on, each pilot has roughly 12 seconds to acquire, interpret and react. I guarantee you that your first flight with new technology, you will be staring at the screen as your brain is interpreting the new data. To make matter worst, for us more senior pilots, our eyes take longer to refocus from far to near vision.

Don’t get me wrong, the ADS-B functions will enhance safety. Once on a flight from Independence, OR back to Pearson Field,  I had a target that was about 1,000 feet below me and slightly towards my 6:00 o’clock. It seemed that every time I was making a diversion, the other pilot was doing the same, but I knew he wasn’t climbing and that he was maintaining his altitude. When the plane below switched over to flight following, ATC let him know that he had a target on same direction and higher. To my relief he stated that he had me in sight the whole time. When a pilot is well trained and is properly using the equipment, situational awareness will be increased. As our eyes get weaker we will be able to recognize a target that is 10 or 5 miles out before it gets into that one mile, and 12 seconds out.

If you’re a pilot with a beautiful “just for the joy of flying” aircraft who will never fly above 10,000 feet, or go through congested airspace of A,B,C, you might not need to spend money on ADS-B out. But investing into an iPad and new ADS-B “in” system might be worth it. If you’re going to be spending a $200 on a receiver, and $300 more on the iPad, it’s a good investment to spend the extra money on additional training.

Remember, be a Pilot in the Classroom first: the cockpit makes for a lousy study hall.