While we wouldn’t invest heavily in ADS-B yet, combining it into an active surveillance system makes sense—especially if you have the right transponder.

By Larry Anglisano

Around 1997, BF Goodrich’s Skywatch TAS brought high-performance, active traffic interrogation to light aircraft. It was an accurate and reliable system that remains in the L-3 Avionics Systems product line today. Honeywell also has a proven TAS system and Avidyne’s affordable TAS600, which started life as the Ryan 9900 series, has been a lively seller and good performer.

Now Garmin has a fresh TAS system of its own with the GTS800-series. It’s available in three versions: The low-cost GTS800, mid-range GTS820 and flagship GTS850. The attention getter is the ability to display ADS-B traffic targets on screen. …