Both the FAA and the EASA have decided against using ADS-C in the development of NextGen and SESAR, because of cost, scalability and ease of use. But has ADS-C actually been implemented and used in practice anywhere?
1 Answer
ADS-C is used in oceanic environments, for example over the Atlantic and the Pacific.
FL350 to FL390 on the North Atlantic Track System is restricted to ADS-C equipped aircraft. Non ADS-C aircraft have to fly either below or above those levels (crossing through those levels is permitted)
The text below is a part of today's Norht Atantic Track message issued by Shanwick Center (EGGX):
222021 EGGXZOZX
(NAT-2/2 TRACKS FLS 310/390 INCLUSIVE
MAR 23/1130Z TO MAR 23/1900Z
PART TWO OF TWO PARTS-
E MALOT 53/20 53/30 53/40 53/50 RIKAL
EAST LVLS NIL
WEST LVLS 310 320 330 340 350 360 370 380 390
EUR RTS WEST NIL
NAR NIL-
F LIMRI 52/20 52/30 52/40 52/50 TUDEP
EAST LVLS NIL
WEST LVLS 310 320 330 340 350 360 370 380 390
EUR RTS WEST NIL
NAR NIL-
REMARKS.
- TMI IS 082 AND OPERATORS ARE REMINDED TO INCLUDE THE
TMI NUMBER AS PART OF THE OCEANIC CLEARANCE READ BACK.
2. ADS-C AND CPDLC MANDATED OTS ARE AS FOLLOWS
TRACK A 350 360 370 380 390
TRACK B 350 360 370 380 390
TRACK C 350 360 370 380 390
TRACK D 350 360 370 380 390
TRACK E 350 360 370 380 390
TRACK F 350 360 370 380 390
END OF ADS-C AND CPDLC MANDATED OTS