Do helicopters use ADS-B?

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radiosification
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Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by radiosification »

I was using my usb rtlsdr device today to decode some ADS-B and I had it left out after I'd finished using it. A helicopter flew over and something made me think, I wonder if that helicopter is on ADS-B?
Does anyone have any info on this? Do any helicopters in the UK use it?
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Glamdring
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Re: Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by Glamdring »

In my experience most don't. Although there is at least one of the Aberdeen Bristows North Sea helicopters that does.

Depends entirely on the operator at the end of the day. If they've fitted ADS-B capable transponders then you'll see them, if they haven't, you wont :)
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Re: Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by radiosification »

hmm, do police helicopter often use it? Most of the helicopter traffic around here is the police helicopter.
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Re: Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by thelad »

I oftern pick up Police/Air ambulances on planeplotter.
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Re: Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by radiosification »

But is that ADS-B or ACARS?
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Re: Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by thelad »

Pretty sure i get them on both,il check later.
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Re: Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by milly »

All of the Police Aviation fleet use Mode-S.
Most of the UK armed forces egg beaters use Mode-S
Other users include Bond's fleet, Bristow's fleet.
Many other civilian operators use it but as I have no interest in them I've not paid much attention to specifics
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Re: Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by Glamdring »

Mode-S doesn't always mean ADS-B though. I know that when I worked at Aberdeen 2 years ago only 1 airframe in the Bristows fleet transmitted ADS-B data. I also notice that despite having Mode-S the central Scotland police helicopter UKP51 does not show up on PP.
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Re: Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by milly »

True, so I'll add to my previous post that all of those I mentioned use ADS-B at least some of the time.
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Re: Do helicopters use ADS-B?

Post by stratocaster »

True,I can pick up that Bond heli from Aberdeen only when it's scheduled on FR24.
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