Peter wrote:
Sites like FR24 were not around back then.
I don’t believe the US Government would use FR24 to track people either in the 80s or now, the taxpayers buy them their own tools 
Routine tracking of citizen movements by the US Government is the political issue in play with regard to ADS-B Out and UAT and yes, it is fundamental in the US notwithstanding that the Feds use every loophole to circumvent Constitutional limits. One example is the exceptions to monitoring and search allowed ‘near’ international borders, which allows otherwise unconstitutional practices within 100 miles (a ludicrous distance) of the US border, conveniently putting many large cities in that zone. ADS-B Out or ‘Mode S Revisited’ (my term) is another example, into which having been beaten on Mode S tracking years ago they added just enough mitigating UAT options and data upload gingerbread to beat back opposition and get what they wanted. I think anybody with a brain can see how this works, and its not a pretty trajectory. Of course, mandatory Mode S or ADS-B Out in 37 terminal areas without the UAT option would be even worse.
Peter wrote:
the EU can simply pass a law to which nobody can object
The answer I’m fishing for is: who is this EU? It’s easy enough to blame everything on the two letters, but I’m just curious who is responsible in this case
Peter wrote:
However any “privacy” argument looks like an admission that the pilot is doing something illegal and therefore he doesn’t have a leg to stand on morally
I counter “If you’ve nothing to hide, why are you worried about surveillance?” with “Well, since you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ll be happy to have Government CCTV in every room of your house including your bathroom?” People then get the point.
alioth wrote:
“If you’ve nothing to hide, why are you worried about surveillance?”
What is observed will eventually and invariably be controlled by those with the power to do so, and control over the details of individual behavior is not the proper role of government. Childishly simple, and it’s hard to believe anybody wouldn’t understand it without explanation.
PROPMAN wrote:
Can somebody explain why we can’t have ADS-B weather on our ipads in Europe as they have in the USA?
We can. At least near Milborne Port.
SkyDemon wrote:
Did you know that we are part of a trial broadcasting UAT in the UK?
UAT is a technology used in the USA to broadcast weather data from ground to air, among other things. When you’re within range of a UAT transmitter and flying a suitably-equipped aircraft, your devices can pick up this live weather information to help you make better decisions in flight.
Until recently, transmission of UAT was thought to be impossible in Europe. But we have teamed up with Uavionix to start broadcasting UAT (as a trial) in the UK with the approval of the CAA. At the moment we are broadcasting from a low-powered transmitter in Milborne Port, with a range of around 15nm. It’s not much, but it’s enough for everybody to fly near our office to verify they can receive the data. As the trial progresses we will start broadcasting from more sites and with higher power output.
So how do you receive the data using SkyDemon? You need to be using a compatible traffic/UAT receiver. So far the list comprises the SkyEcho from uAvionix, the iLevil, and the Stratux. If you’re already using the latest version of SkyDemon with one of these devices you’ll see a green indicator light up in the Weather tab when you fly in range. When this indicator is lit you’ll be receiving live precipitation radar (shown on the map automatically) and TAF and METAR updates for every airfield within 250nm.
Stay tuned over the next few months and we’ll post more updates with how the trial is going. We’ll let you know when more transmitters go up and when we transmit more weather products.
What sort of cost is involved in subscribing to the UK UAT transmissions?
Peter wrote:
What sort of cost is involved in subscribing to the UK UAT transmissions?
Zero.
All you need is a receiver, which you can either build yourself (Stratux), or buy (SkyEcho, iLevil).
Hmmm… who is paying for this? Somebody must be. Nationwide UK coverage would be very expensive, never mind European.
Peter wrote:
Hmmm… who is paying for this? Somebody must be. Nationwide UK coverage would be very expensive, never mind European.
Well the groundstations in the US have a range of approx 150nm. So not too bad.
The CAA wrote:
The transmission of weather data from the ground direct to a GA aircraft cockpit via 978MHz. This trial is being undertaken by an equipment manufacturer (uAvionix) and aeronautical information service provider (SkyDemon).
You can find it here.
It would be amazing to extend it to the UK, with all its IMC rated pilots.
Who will pay for it ? Maybe the CAA if uAvionix and SD provides the HW & SW off-the-shelf for a low price.
But first, the UAT frequency has to be completely abandoned by the RAF, which won’t happen quickly.
A first step has been accomplished, it’s already significant.
