2016-02-02

ADS-B broacast from a crane !


ADS-B plot from https://planefinder.net/

A strange marker shows up on ADS-B plots in the Docklands, near London City Airport. A relevant NOTAM has been issued, indicating that it is a fixed ADS-B beacon on a crane at a construction site:

Q) EGTT/QCBXX/IV/BO /AE /009/999/5130N00001E
A) EGLC
B) 16/01/28 23:59
C) 16/03/12 23:59
E) LOW POWER AUTOMATED DEPENDANT SURVEILLANCE-BROADCAST (ADS-B) TRANSMITTER OPR ON CRANE AT 513030N 0000057E (ROYAL VICTORIA DOCK). EQUIPMENT WILL NOT INTERACT WITH TCAS BUT MAY BE DETECTABLE ON TRAFFIC INFORMATION DEVICES AND DEPICT WITH CALLSIGN CRANE. PILOTS ARE REQUESTED TO IGNORE THIS TRANSMISSION DURING THIS TRIAL.

I believe it is the first time that a Mode-S/ADS-B marker is used in this way. Stay tuned for more info.

UPDATE 2016-05-17: See additional information by Pat Carty in Radio User magazine, 11 (5), May 2016, page 49, ISSN 1748-8117.