iFly GPS Forum

Mike, my first question is, "Why is it important to you that FlightRadar24 be able to see you?"  I'm mean that honestly--your motivations are key to providing you with useful suggestions.

If you want to confirm you're visible "in the system", then I think you've already done that--you have the FAA report and confirmation from both ATC and other traffic.  

If you want others to be able to track you, then there may be other ways to do that that are more reliable.  You could try a different tool, like FlightAware as was suggested (especially using the "show location-only flights" option, or you could file IFR (which in my experience essentially guarantees you'll show up in FlightAware--I use that routinely to allow folks I'm heading for to track me and know when I will be arriving), or you could try a personal locator beacon like SPOT.

Is there something else you're trying to accomplish?

Cobra, good question...

When I go into the DC area, I now am REQUIRED to have ADSB installed, certified and OPERATIONAL.  It is a 40 minute flight from my airport to the edge of the SFRA and then FRZ, which are well INSIDE the ADSB veil around them...

I would like to know for sure the system is working before I get close to these areas, as that is about the time I am trying to reach themon the radio. Often times they will tell me to "stand by" as it gets really busy here.  So, I am trying to avoid just orbiting outside of ADSB space, SFRA adn FRZ space as I am VFR and have to wait on controllers to allow me to proceed to my destination, which is inside the DC Beltway and well inside highly restricted and controlled airspace.

Knowing the ADSB system is working while I am on the way saves me (and ATC) consternation.  It would also save me a 40 min (each way) trip to the edge of the ADSB veil if the sytems were NOT working.

Thanks - that is the reason why I would like to know from inside the cockpit if I am transmitting so I am legal well before I approach the airspace.  

Mike N714AJ

Mike, as of Jan 1, all of us need our ADSB-out to work anytime we fly into Class B or C areas anywhere in the US.  The DC area is not unique in this regard.

However, pilots also need to establish radio contact with ATC before entering those areas.  If your ADSB isn't working properly, ATC will almost certainly let you know, just like they would have on Dec 31, 2019 if you'd tried to fly into Class B without a working transponder.  (How did you ensure your transponder was functioning before flying into Class B's back then?)

If you are trying to rely on Flightradar24 or FlightAware while you are in flight, then you are also introducing the vagaries of the cell network into the equation (and whatever mechanisms FR24 and FA use to collect and publish their data), in addition to your ADSB gear.  Different phones, different cellular providers, different geographical areas, and different altitudes will all yield different results in terms of cellular data availbility while airborne, but in general, it is not highly reliable and you should not count on it working.  (It's actually a violation of FCC regs to have your cell phone transmitting while airborne, though folks do it all the time and I doubt anyone's ever gotten in trouble for it.)

If you've installed your ADSB-out gear and received a good performance report from the FAA, then just go fly.  If for some reason you're particularly worried about it, then call ATC early in your flight and get confirmation that it's working--that's really the only reliable option you have.

But unless you have a highly problematic system, it's likely going to "just work" far more often than it doesn't, just like your radios and transponder do.