Traffic Information Service – Broadcast, or TIS-B, is designed to enhance pilots’ awareness of nearby air traffic during flights. This service allows pilots to see important details about other aircraft, such as their identity, position, altitude, and speed. These details are broadcasted by aircraft equipped with the right technology and processed by regional control facilities. To access TIS-B, users must have compatible ADS-B In & Out devices. The primary users of TIS-B include airborne aircraft, those operating on airport services, and certain airport surface vehicles.
In 2013, the FAA discovered that many operators were using uncertified ADS-B Out devices to gain access to TIS-B services. While these aircraft can be detected by air traffic control (ATC) and surrounding aircraft equipped with TCAS/TAS, they remain invisible to TSO-compliant ADS-B In aircraft that lack TCAS/TAS. This poses a significant safety risk. Furthermore, uncertified ADS-B Out devices do not effectively utilize the protected aeronautical spectrum, meaning their ADS-B data cannot be utilized by TSO-compliant ADS-B In systems or FAA air traffic control automation systems.
To address these safety concerns, the FAA plans to implement updates to the TIS-B service in the United States between late 2015 and early 2016. For additional information, refer to the ADS-B article.
