Alaska ADS-B Project
What is ADS-B
ADS-B stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast. It is a modern aviation technology in which an equipped aircraft transmits it's GPS position every one second, allowing any other receiver to see it - without requiring radar or air traffic control.
Goal of this project
When there is an unfortunate case where an aircraft goes overdue, Search and Rescue (SAR) starts by determining a "Last Known Position". Traditionally, this has depended on FAA or military radar data. There are several limitations with radar. Radar coverage is typically designed for the separation of high altitude aircraft, or for coastal defense. Lower altitude aircraft, especially further from the radar site, are not able to be seen. This leaves a very large part of the state without visibility for a large part of the General Aviation fleet (air taxis and recreational flying). This can leave SAR planners with an area thousands of square miles in size to start looking.
Because ADS-B equipped aircraft automatically transmit their position, any receiver in range can receive the signal and plot of the location of the aircraft. ADS-B transmissions are just radio waves, so big, expensive radar sites aren't required; very small, and therefore affordable, receivers can process this data and contribute it to a traffic picture.
Our goal is to deploy ADS-B receivers throughout the state where existing gaps in surveillance coverage exist, allowing SAR planners to more quickly direct rescue resources to provide assistance to overdue aircraft.
The expansion of this network will also benefit small business throughout the state, allowing air taxis to more precisely monitor their fleets, and to the general public helping them know when to meet inbound cargo and passenger flights.
How to use our data
We are platform agnostic, we contribute to as many agregators as possible, so you can use the app/site of your choice to track flights. We currently feed to: adsb.lol, adsb.fi, ADSBExchange, ADSBHub, airplanes.live, FlightAware, flightradar24, HPRadar, OpenSky Network, planespotters.net, plane.watch, RadarBox, RadarPlane, TheAirTraffic.com.
How you can help
This project is sponsored by the Alaska Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, a congressionally chartered non-profit organization, with the support of the Alaska State legislature, the United States Air Force, and our corporate supporters.
If you or someone you know is near one of the red or yellow pins on the map below, we would love to talk to you. At no cost, the Civil Air Patrol will install a small recceiver and antenna at your location. All that is needed is AC or DC power (average 5 watts, maximum 15 watts) and an internet connection (about 1-2kbps continuous).
Think you can help? Send an e-mail to adsb@akwg.cap.gov
| Green | Good coverage | |
| Yellow | Medium priority for increased coverage | |
| Red | High priority for increased coverage |
Our Thanks
We would like to thank the following organizations that are currently hosting receivers and supporting our mission:
| ADS-B Feeder Image | Alaska Airlines | Chulitna River Lodge | Flight Aware |
| Kingdom Air Corps | Sheldon Air Service | Skwentna Roadhouse |
