Reliability of ADS-B communications

Abstract

The Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) technology promises to enhance the safety of civil avionics by diffusing flight data in a more efficient, timely, and easy to access fashion. Moreover, its adoption is mandatory by 2020. However, the quality of the communication is not completely satisfactory. Indeed, packets are lost for a number of reasons, such as obstacles, weather conditions, and by the fact that the frequency band on which ADS-B is intended to work in is the same shared by other legacy communication technologies used by the aircraft.