ADS-B TSO: Fans and Foes
In the May 2017 Aviation Consumer ADS-B article sidebar, “It’s Time to Relax the ADS-B TSO,” you advocate for the use of portable ADS-B In/Out devices and further, to relax or eliminate the TSO governing the performance of ADS-B equipment.
There are very good reasons for not permitting the use of portable ADS-B Out devices and to retain the TSOs as they currently exist. Starting in 2020, ADS-B will be the primary mode of ATC surveillance, and will largely replace the current ATCRBS (ATC radar beacon system, with portions of the ATCRBS retained as a backup). Portable ADS-B Out devices suffer from some major limitations, including reliability of powering, RF radiation pattern nulling and attenuation resulting from the antenna being inside the aircraft. There’s also the lack of connection to the aircraft static system.