what info provided by Mode S xpdr to ATC?

Jason spent 24 years as an air traffic controller at Los Angeles Center, and recently moved east to work in DC in the Airspace office as an air traffic subject matter expert. He is a Sport Pilot, owns a Rans S12XL E-LSA, and got his >87 knot endorsement so he can rent a C162. He's here to answer your questions about ATC procedures and rules, in a strictly unofficial capacity.

Moderators: drseti, Flim63

Post Reply
howardnmn
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 4:20 pm
Location: san francisco bay area (mill valley)

what info provided by Mode S xpdr to ATC?

Post by howardnmn »

on a recent 135nm trip to Truckee airport (5900') from SF Bay Area several controllers asked what is my 'type?'

my 2013 SLSA is equipped with Dynon Skyview including ADS-B and mode S

i thought one thing Mode S communicated 'automatically' with ads-b was ICAO Type; also cruise speed, airplane ownership etc

what info does ATC get besides altitude & location & direction?

is there a FAA procedure to determine if one's a/c is 2020 compliant?
Remos GX nXES. N999GX
smith ranch/san rafael airport (CA35)
california
User avatar
drseti
Posts: 7227
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:42 pm
Location: Lock Haven PA
Contact:

Re: what info provided by Mode S xpdr to ATC?

Post by drseti »

Mode S sends your Mode C altitude plus a unique code assigned to your aircraft. One could theoretically look up that code and find your type and registration number, but that information is not instantly available to ATC. 2020 compliance adds Extended Squitter to your mode S data stream. Those bits hand off your position information as derived from a TSO compliant WAAS GPS. To test for 2020 compliance, get yourself into radar contact with a NextRad ATC facility. After landing, there's a website you go to. Enter your unique Mode S code and print out your compliance report. (This serves as your required 24 month check).
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
User avatar
bitten192
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:09 pm
Location: RICHLAND WA USA

Re: what info provided by Mode S xpdr to ATC?

Post by bitten192 »

drseti wrote:... To test for 2020 compliance, get yourself into radar contact with a NextRad ATC facility. After landing, there's a website you go to. Enter your unique Mode S code and print out your compliance report. (This serves as your required 24 month check).
What's the website link to get this print out?
Ernie
CFI, LSRM-A
User avatar
drseti
Posts: 7227
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:42 pm
Location: Lock Haven PA
Contact:

Re: what info provided by Mode S xpdr to ATC?

Post by drseti »

The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
Post Reply