Data Quality of displayed traffic

English
1

Here in LOAV / LOAN the traffic density can be extreme sometimes. Not so many pilots use the app unfortunately. How is the process of getting better data quality especially of the MODE-S Transponders in the system? Can’t the ATC be required, to offer real radar data to be transmitted via the system. The data is here - why is it not published? So many near misses could be avoided…

2

Hi Smurf!

You are absolutely right: if ATC would publish Mode-S data, that would help to make them ‘visible’.
Since the start of Safeky, we have been asking different ANSP’s , but they are all very reluctant, not to say ‘not willing’ to make these data available. We heard so many reasons, none convincing…
Amazing for national institutions who’s main objective is safe airspace use…
If you have any contacts in this ATC environment, please ask them also! Maybe one day…?
In the meantime, we have to find a way around: installing ground stations, collecting the data from all possible sources, urging pilots to become electronically visible, collaborating with all parties that have this same objective:
to create our own safety…
Paul

3

See if you can get your fellow pilots and airfields to install ADS-B receivers in their locations. I recently installed one ay home that feeds ADS-B Exchange and ADSB.FI, two networks that SafeSky uses to pass on aircraft position data to SafeSky users in the air. Not that difficult to install if you have basic computer/IT knowledge. You can even purchase a “ready to go” receiver kit if you don’t have the knowledge or confidence to “build your own”.
Tony

4

2024 was the start of many projects installing receivers (ADS-B, Flarm, Fanet) like the one from Avionix.

  • 3 belgium federations put some money together to buy 21 Avionix stations that where given to affiliated flying clubs to install on their field.
  • In Spain, national ANSP ENAIRE, together with all aeronautical federations is installing over 50 Avionix stations, financed by the governement.
  • Same project is going on now in 2 regions in France, financed by all the french aeronautical federations (CNFAS) : Britanny and in the North west.
  • In the french Isle ‘La Reunion’, it is the government that is sponsoring the installation of 11 stations.
  • Other similar projects are taking place in Norway, Finland and Germany

So nice to see all these projects driven by the community of pilots!

2 Likes
5

I am planning to install an avionix open air multitrack receiver. Is there anything special to consider or setup to feed SafeSky? Thank you

6

Hi Smurf!

Installing an Avionix multitrack receiver is indeed a good idea. SafeSky is directly linked to all data that is collected by these stations, without any further change of the software. Installation is pretty straightforward. It is plug and play, and the instructions to install are clear. Do not forget to ground the antenna.
It receives ADS-B, Flarm and all other devices using 868band.

Be aware that for receiving Mode S transponders, aircraft must be in line of site of at least 4 ground stations. So the more stations in your region, the better.

Thanks for your efforts!

P.S. In Iceland, the federation is installing the Avionix stations all over the island too.

Paul

7

Thanks Paul!

8

Will not help for mode-S transponders which is still used in the majority of GA aircraft.

9

Peter,
ADS-B receivers also contribute to the receiver network for MLAT determination.
A minimum of 4 receivers are needed to “see” the Mode S emitting aircraft in order to determine its position using MLAT.

10

Then it is not just an ADS-B receiver, as mode-S transponders dot not transmit ADS-B data. The receiver will then also contain a mode-S receiver of which four of them are then combined to determine the position.
Mode-S contains the altitude of the airctraft above the 1013.25 hPa surface plane and then should be corrected for the local QNH (and temperature) to get the true altitude.
So that means SafeSky can also show the altitude of mode-S aircraft accurately when it corrects for local QNH (and temperature)

11

Regarding MLAT: could someone explain to me why 2 aircraft, both with mode-s transponders and nearly at the same position and same altitude can have very different accuracies? I observed one a/c having 1.0 NM and the second aircraft having 0.2nm accuracy.

12

Could it be that the accurate one also has SafeSky active. Then its position is known to the SafeSky network via the GPS in that aircraft.
Afaik the SafeSky app indicates with a color whether it is an aircraft with SafeSky active.