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6/10/2021 8:16 AM
 

I believe the "bridge lady" was nailed by the bridge camera. 

The report I read said her ID system was turned off just prior to the bridge and then turned on after.

John M

 
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6/10/2021 9:39 AM
 

"Nailed" is a strange word.  You seem to suggest the FAA has people sitting around watching video from under bridges, just in case someone flies under one.  "Nailed" surely doesn't mean 3 shifts of people employed to watch bridge video footage. Surely it means, "I think she flew under that bridge.  Get the footage for XYZ period of time and see if she did."  In this case, there would be a reason to think she flew under the bridge at a specific time, rather than 3 shifts of folks for every bridge, watching video in case someone breaks the rules. . . not that that also wouldn't be troubling.  I also kind of ask myself about the conversation that had to have taken place between the DOT and the FAA, because surely the camera belongs to the DOT.  How does the FAA even know there's a bridge there with a camera on it?

And, yes, the FAA's accusation is that she turned her transponder off before going under the bridge, which is what they yanked the license for.  She disputes that.  However, what led to to that?  Was it blurry eyed folks finally seeing a plane fly under a bridge, or was it a gap in ADS-B data?  It was suggested that squawking 1200 makes one anonymous, and yet the yanked her license because they contend she shutoff her ADS-B out equiped transponder, while she was obviously not under any sort of flight following (so, squawking 1200).  There could be an argument that anonymous ADS-B data led to the examination of the bridge.  It could be a good argument for anonymity, and a BAD argument for the FAA, because that would mean they have algorithms examining ADS-B data, looking for any "no harm" event so they can yank licenses, and then looking for a way to de-anonymize the trace.  I mean, it's a good argument, but doesn't make the FAA any less gestapo-like.

I would also like to point out that your ADS-B equipment need not know your N number for the FAA to de-anonymize your ADS-B trace.  I'm a career software engineer, having been in the business for more than 3 decades.  I mention it because this problem is a "rendezvous" or an "appointment" in the trade.  My understanding is that your ADS-B device transmits a unique identifer for the device, something like a MAC ID used in a network card.  As a result, whenever you fly into controlled space and the blip on the screen is married to your N number, it IS married.  All they have to do is record that the "MAC ID" received = your N number. . . Until a new N number is associated with that ADS-B id.  All it takes is one flight into a Class C, and you could be forever not anonymous even while squawking 1200.  I'm not saying the FAA does this, just that it can be done, and, really, is the intent of ADS-B; wihci is to replace radar.  That marriage in a radar world was obviously only temporary, your N-number was married to a squawk code.  In an ADS-B world, to make it temporary you'd have to choose to remove the "marriage", rather leave it there and just change the squawk code associated with it.  The data was distributed in a radar world, with you being handed off (inserted into a new system, and removed from the previous -- to preserve squawk codes) if under flight following.  With ADS-B, its one system.  The squawk code is the "rendezvous", the N-number of MAC ID need not be.

 

 

 
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6/10/2021 10:57 AM
 

each plane gets a hex code w adsb afaik

that's why you can see fast movers on adsb exchange and recently fr24. 

also, bridge lady got caught doing dumb stuff on camera. IMO there is plausible deniability with adsb malfunctions, but not when you do dumb stuff on camera. 

 
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6/10/2021 11:31 AM
 

If plausible deniability were the standard, then the fact that she was informed it was off when she contacted Cincinnati approach (I believe that's the airport) would tend to argue for that plausible denibility.  The regulation places the burden of proof on the pilot.

But, I kind of feel like that's beside the point.  The regulations require clearances and the ability to land safely, yet how safely can a crop duster land if he's at 100, 15 feet above a crop, heading for a fence?  It might be safe operation for him, but it's not safe for me.  There's safe operation, and there's safe operation, and the question in my mind is, "Who was harmed?".    You and I will have to agree to disagree on this.

She did not lose her license for flying under a bridge.  She lost her license because she can't prove, without substantial financial investment, that she didn't turn off her transponder.  The burden of proof is on the pilot, not the FAA, and in my mind, the FAA appears to have sought a victim.

Nonetheless, I hope the remainder of the folks out there who disagree can let the subject lie.  This isn't the venue to discuss the issues if the FAA, but to discuss iFly gps features.

 
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6/10/2021 12:09 PM
 
Sam wrote:

I would also like to point out that your ADS-B equipment need not know your N number for the FAA to de-anonymize your ADS-B trace.  I'm a career software engineer, having been in the business for more than 3 decades.  I mention it because this problem is a "rendezvous" or an "appointment" in the trade.  My understanding is that your ADS-B device transmits a unique identifer for the device, something like a MAC ID used in a network card.  As a result, whenever you fly into controlled space and the blip on the screen is married to your N number, it IS married.  All they have to do is record that the "MAC ID" received = your N number. . 

This is actually not correct.  There is no secret code within the 112 bit ADS-B data packet.  24 bits of this packet are reserved for the ICAO hex address.  This is a unique hex address and is indeed attached to your N-number.  The hex value needs all 24 bits so no room for anything secret.  If you set your 978 ADS-B transponder to anonymous (not all support this mode), the 24 bits are set to a fixed block of unassigned hex codes.  This option is not availabe on 1090 transponders, yet. This is very easy to check since the ADS-B packet is in the clear.

 

 
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