ADS-B Traffic Quiz: How does it work?

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The FAA has managed to make the traffic component of ADS-B both easy and hard. There’s a new set of acronyms, like UAT, TIS-B, 1090ES, ADS-B Out, ADS-R, FIS-B, but do they really matter at the end of the day? The short answer is yes and you should know what they mean, but the good news is once you’re properly equipped and up in the air, the system “just works” and will provide a complete traffic picture on your iPad or panel in most parts of the U.S.

Portable ADS-B receivers for the iPad, like Sentry, have made traffic in the cockpit accessible to all pilots flying any type of aircraft. Take our latest quiz to learn more about ADS-B traffic nuances, so you’ll be confident in knowing when you’re receiving a complete traffic picture on your iPad, and when you’re not.

1. As part of the FAA's NextGen ADS-B air traffic system, what is the service that provides the altitude, ground track, speed and distance of aircraft flying in radar contact to other aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out transponders?
1. As part of the FAA's NextGen ADS-B air traffic system, what is the service that provides the altitude, ground track, speed and distance of aircraft flying in radar contact to other aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out transponders?
Correct! Wrong!
2. In order to receive a custom traffic data package from the ADS-B network of ground stations, you must first do what?
2. In order to receive a custom traffic data package from the ADS-B network of ground stations, you must first do what?
Correct! Wrong!
3. If you are not ADS-B Out equipped but flying near another aircraft that is, then you will see all Mode C traffic.
3. If you are not ADS-B Out equipped but flying near another aircraft that is, then you will see all Mode C traffic.
Correct! Wrong!
4. What is the update rate for TIS-B traffic sent to your ADS-B equipped airplane from ADS-B ground towers?
4. What is the update rate for TIS-B traffic sent to your ADS-B equipped airplane from ADS-B ground towers?
Correct! Wrong!
5. When flying with ForeFlight, what is the significance of a potential traffic conflict depicted in red?
5. When flying with ForeFlight, what is the significance of a potential traffic conflict depicted in red?
Correct! Wrong!
6. What size is the traffic "hockey puck" that ground stations transmit to participating ADS-B out equipped aircraft?
6. What size is the traffic
Correct! Wrong!
7. What is the importance of the "-10" notation next to a nearby traffic target?
7. What is the importance of the
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Flying with ADS-B Traffic You got out of 7 right!
4 replies
  2. edbreyer
    edbreyer says:

    I’ve read that planes without ADSB-Out will still appear as traffic on my ADSB-IN screen if local ground radar has pinged them. Is this correct?

    • Joe
      Joe says:

      It depends! I have been taught if you have ADS-B Out, then yes, if they are at least Mode C transponder and radar picks them up then your ADS-B in should depict the traffic. If you are not ADS-B out, then maybe. If there is another aircraft with ADS-B out nearby, you will likely see the non-ADS-B out Mode C traffic that radar has picked up. If you are not ADS-B out and no other ADS-B out is around, then I have been told you will not get other non-ADS-B out Mode C that radar picks up.

  3. Richard
    Richard says:

    How many close calls and mid air collisions do we need to have before ADS-B out is required for all aircraft? Even my glider, with NO source of electrical power other than batteries, has ADS-B in and out. There is no excuse!

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