Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Training: Does it exist in Collegiate Aviation?

One of the key elements to NextGen is the transition from the current ground- based radar monitoring system to a satellite-based system using the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast System (ADS-B). The FAA has set a mandate which requires all aircraft to be ADS-B equipped by the year 2020 in order to continue operating in the National Airspace System. However, the FAA has not set forth any training requirements for aviation instructors or designated examiners. This study looked at how ADS-B is currently being taught among aviation educators across the United States and how important this training is to current aviation curriculum. With the information collected, it was determined that only a minimal amount of ADS-B training is currently taking place across the country, and the training that is taking place is non-standardized and limited due to the perception that ADS-B is only to be used as a traffic advisory tool. There was significant difference in the perceived importance of ADS-B, t(73) = -2.79, p < .01 between the flight instructor group and the group containing mostly professors and administrators. Also, a significant difference was found in the comparison of perceived importance and institution, t(73) = -3.11, p < .01. There was no significance found when comparing the perceived importance of ADS-B training to the number of years a respondent had worked as an aviation educator, F(1,73) = .44, p = .508 or the number of hours a respondent had received ADS-B training, F(1,60) = .15, p = .699. There was also no significant difference in the perceived importance of ADS-B training dependent upon if participants operated in a geographic location that had ADS-B coverage, t(73) = -1.88, p = .063. Several factors were discovered as to why there seems to be no current urgency among aviation educators to train their students in this new technology. In addition, recommended steps the FAA could take in order to help aviation educators with the ADS-B training process were suggested.