ADS-B
Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast · Also: ADS-B Out, ADS-B In, automatic dependent surveillance
A system in which an aircraft automatically and regularly broadcasts its satellite-derived position, altitude, speed and identity by radio.
What it is
The acronym explains how it works. It is automatic, because the crew does nothing; dependent, because the position comes from the aircraft's own navigation systems, usually GPS; and broadcast, because it is sent openly several times a second for ground stations and other aircraft to receive.
Most airliners transmit ADS-B on 1090 MHz through their Mode S transponder. For air traffic control it is more accurate and cheaper than radar and reaches areas without radar cover, even over the oceans thanks to receivers carried on satellites. It has been mandatory in much of United States airspace since 2020, and Europe requires it, with some exemptions, for aircraft flying under instrument rules with a maximum take-off weight above 5.7 tonnes or a maximum cruising speed above 250 knots.
Every message carries the aircraft's ICAO 24-bit address. Because the signals are not encrypted, anyone with a simple receiver can pick them up, which is how volunteer networks show live air traffic.
On Vuelopedia
When an aircraft is flying, its Vuelopedia record shows its live position using ADS-B data.
Related terms
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This page was last updated on October 9, 2026
APA
Vuelopedia. (2026, October 9). ADS-B. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/ads-b
MLA
“ADS-B.” Vuelopedia, Fundación Poderia, 9 Oct. 2026, vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/ads-b. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Vuelopedia. “ADS-B.” Fundación Poderia. Last modified October 9, 2026. https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/ads-b.
Harvard
Vuelopedia (2026) ADS-B. Available at: https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/ads-b (Accessed: 21 October 2026).
BibTeX
@misc{vuelopedia_en_glossary_ads_b,
author = {{Vuelopedia}},
title = {{ADS-B}},
publisher = {Fundación Poderia},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-09},
url = {https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/ads-b},
howpublished = {\url{https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/ads-b}},
urldate = {2026-10-21},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21}
}Wikipedia
{{cite web |url=https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/ads-b |title=ADS-B |website=Vuelopedia |publisher=Fundación Poderia |date=2026-10-09 |access-date=2026-10-21 |language=en}}