FAA Asks That Users Report 'Irregularities' In The Services

Pilots who use the surface airspace listed below can now receive free traffic and weather information in the cockpit. To receive these services, aircraft must be equipped with an Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) transmitter/receiver or transceiver and a cockpit display of traffic information (CDTI). 

The services are available at Charlotte Douglas (KCLT); Denver (KDEN); Miami (KMIA); Ronald Reagan National (KDCA); William P. Hobby (KHOU).

The new services include Flight Information Service - Broadcast (FIS-B), which provides pilots and flight crews with a cockpit display of aviation weather and aeronautical information via Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) equipment on 978 MHz. The FAA notes that FIS-B is not compatible with 1090ES avionics.

The following FIS-B weather products are for advisory use only: 

• Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs).
• Special Aviation Reports (SPECIs).
• Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) and their amendments.
• NEXRAD (regional and CONUS) precipitation maps.
• Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Distant and Flight Data Center.
• Airmen’s Meteorological Conditions (AIRMET).
• Significant Meteorological Conditions (SIGMET) and Convective SIGMET.
• Status of Special Use Airspace (SUA).
• Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).
• Winds and Temperatures Aloft.
• Pilot Reports (PIREPS).
• TIS-B service status.

Traffic Information Service - Broadcast (TIS-B), which enhances a pilot's visual acquisition of other traffic on 978 UAT and 1090 MHz Extended Squitter (1090 ES). TIS-B is an advisory only service.  Pilots must continue to exercise vigilance to “see and avoid” other aircraft in accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 91.113b.

Aircraft equipped with a 978 MHz Universal Access Transceiver (UAT), will be able to receive TIS-B and FIS-B. Aircraft equipped with a 1090 MHz Extended Squitter (1090 ES) will receive TIS-B.

The FAA encourages users of TIS-B and FIS-B to report any irregularities observed while using the services. Reports should contain the following information:

• Time of observation.
• Location.
• Type and identity of the aircraft.
• Description of the condition observed.
• Type of avionics system and software version used.

Pilots can report issues by contacting the nearest Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility, Flight Service Station (FSS) facility, or by submitting FAA Form 8740-5, Safety Improvement Report, available from FSSs, Flight Standards District Offices, or general aviation fixed-based operators. When the service is not available, as result of a service volume network being out of service, the service condition will be NOTAMed as NOT AVBL.
 
EXAMPLE - !PHL PHL SVC TRAFFIC INFORMATION SERVICE BROADCAST NOT AVBL

FMI: www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ATpubs/AIM/