ADS-B Activated in Philly

ADS-B, one of the cornerstones of the FAA’s ATC modernization plan known as NextGen, is operational in the Philadelphia area. The operational benefits in Philadelphia extend as far as Washington, D.C., and New York. According to the FAA, ADS-B provides controllers with one-second update rates versus four-and-a-half-second update rates with radar. However, aircraft must be equipped with ADS-B out equipment to provide these more frequent updates. The FAA said that once most aircraft are so equipped it will be able to reduce en route separation from the current five nautical miles to three. Philadelphia is one of four key sites–the
others being Houston; Louisville, Ky.; and Juneau, Alaska–the FAA selected to demonstrate ADS-B services. ADS-B is expected to be available nationwide by 2013.