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News & Media Navy plan prompts notam

Navy plan prompts notam

East Coast activities could affect ADS-B, TCAS

June 23, 2016 By Jim Moore
Editor's note: This article was updated June 27 to correct an error: Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast units most typically used in general aviation operate at 978 MHz. AOPA regrets the error.
Military exercises planned between June 28 and July 22 off the East Coast could reduce the sensitivity of collision avoidance and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipment using the 1030/1090 MHz band, though similar activities in the past have not resulted in adverse effects.
Military activity planned June 28 through July 22 could reduce the sensitivity of some ADS-B units; the FAA issued a notam June 23 covering a large area of the East Coast and Atlantic Ocean, and will follow up with more specificadditional notams covering portions of this area in advance of specific exercises.
Military activity planned June 28 through July 22 could reduce the sensitivity of some ADS-B units; the FAA issued a notam June 23 covering a large area of the East Coast and Atlantic Ocean, and will follow up with more specificadditional notams covering portions of this area in advance of specific exercises.

The FAA on June 23 published a notam that describes a large area encompassing much of the East Coast and Atlantic Ocean within which U.S. Navy activity could reduce the sensitivity of avionics that operate in the affected frequency range. Most ADS-B units installed in general aviation aircraft operate on 978 MHz, and should not be affected.

The FAA issued a “mother” notam, as it has with similar military activities in the past, that covers a large area, and will issue additional notams as the exercises proceed, targeting more precisely the locations within the “mother” notam area that will be affected during specific periods.

AOPA has worked with the FAA to coordinate advisories and give pilots as much advance notice as possible. No delays or traffic disruptions are expected within the areas affected by the military activity expected to occur intermittently over periods lasting up to 12 hours in a given day.

Anomalies affecting avionics are deemed “unlikely,” and pilots are advised that the military activity will not create false alerts on traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS), and that any TCAS alert should be treated as valid. Pilots are asked to report any such anomalies to air traffic control, which will allow ATC to implement established mitigation protocols (such protocols have not been needed to date).

The June 23 notam was issued in very similar fashion to one posted in March, when similar military activity created a potential for reduced ADS-B sensitivity.

Pilots are asked to share any impacts experienced from a GPS interference event with AOPA.

Jim Moore
Jim Moore
Managing Editor-Digital Media
Digital Media Managing Editor Jim Moore joined AOPA in 2011 and is an instrument-rated private pilot, as well as a certificated remote pilot, who enjoys competition aerobatics and flying drones.
Go to Jim Moore's Profile
Topics: FAA Information and Services, Notams

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