ADS-B and aerobatic aircraft

[saber25]

Interesting isn't it...after throwing beaucoup money, effort and time installing the much heralded ADS-B equipment in your aerobatic airplane, while engaged in aerobatics, the system doesn't provide any safety whatsoever! This activity that focuses on maneuvers and doesn't allow much time for scanning could have been helped by another set of eyes yet it doesn't. The best remedy to avoid other inflight activity affecting your practice is a safety person on the ground advising you of incoming traffic so you can knock it off while the airspace gets cleared.

The argument for ADS-B was driven by collision avoidance and "Free Weather" info while inflight, not to mention that NextGen is designed to aid in closer spacing for commercial air traffic. The FAA in collusion with AOPA and EAA drove home the need for the negligible benefits derived by ADS-B.

For now, according to a reliable aviation source, many of the military aircraft have no workable plans to install and or use this system while the issue of thousands of UAS craft will have a high user impact on the system. For no other reason, this might be a good time to keep your low level flying to a minimum.

The following list on the official FAA web site states this... 1. 1. Loss of Control Inflight 2.Controlled Flight Into Terrain 3.System Component Failure – Powerplant4. Fuel Related 5.Unknown or Undetermined 6.System Component Failure – Non-Powerplant 7. Unintended Flight In IMC 8.Midair Collisions Low

9. Low-Altitude Operations 10. Other

Please note that in flight collisions were third from the bottom of the list. I fear the pilots will now be so engrossed on their video screens that what goes on outside becomes of secondary importance.

Cheers, Hans

[Mark Meredith]

All,
Here's a letter I received from the FAA, my response, and the answer. Closed! Mark

On March 20, 2018 at 10:11 AM Michael.A.Smith@faa.gov wrote:

Hi Mr. Meredith,

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I reviewed all of your flights and I can clearly see when you were doing acrobatics. Please consider this matter closed. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me via email or at (832) 291-3029.


Mike Smith
ADS-B FOCUS TEAM


From: Mark Meredith [mailto:msmeredith@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 4:38 PM
To: Smith, Michael A (FAA) <Michael.A.Smith@faa.gov>
Subject: Shore Labs FAA Notice 031418, ADSB

Mr. Smith,



I received the attached letter. N7DW is an aerobatic aircraft, and I fly practice and competition at International Aerobatics Club sanctioned events. IAC has advised members to expect such an ADSB failure letter, and that they are working with the FAA to resolve the issue with aircraft doing such maneuvering.



Is there anything I need to do in the near term? I installed ADSB-out equipment, got a good test report, and received the $500 rebate.



Thanks,

Mark MeredithShorelabsFAANotice031418.pdf

[WLIU]

Ran across the following. I bolded the info regarding acro.

Wes

Aerobatic Pilots and ADS-B

By Dave Hughes, FAA writer

March 15, 2018 - As of January 1, 2020, ADS-B “out” will be required in most controlled airspace. Pilots who are practicing aerobatics, performing in an air show, or competing in an event will also be required to report their position via ADS-B out. This requirement is no different from the current requirement to use an operating transponder for these types of flight operations. The FAA maintains that the ability of controllers and other pilots to identify and track aerobatic aircraft via ADS-B will enhance safety.

ADS-B out is valuable for safety when an aerobatic aircraft is not performing dynamic maneuvers. It will transmit an aircraft’s identity and position to controllers and pilots of other aircraft equipped with ADS-B “in,” even if their aircraft is not being tracked on radar. Equipping with both ADS-B out and in will help pilots of aerobatic aircraft travel safely to and from events.

It is important to note that ADS-B equipment does not function properly during aerobatic maneuvers, but the FAA has said it will not penalize any pilot in that situation.

The FAA is developing a new policy on the aerobatic use of ADS-B, which should become available in summer 2018. The policy will be accessible in the FAA’s Flight Standards Information Management System (Order 8900.1) and advisory circular, AC 91-45D, Waivers: Aviation Events.

The FAA policy for ADS-B is being written in the same way as for transponders. The transponder rule has no waiver under 14 CFR section 91.205. With few exceptions, pilots are required to turn on the transponder. For instance, while in formation when aircraft are not separated during the maneuvering sequence, only the lead aircraft will need ADS-B turned on. These exceptions must be authorized by the controlling FAA facility in advance.