Beyond radar: How ADS-B In is shaping the future of US aviation operations

As air traffic grows and airspace becomes more crowded, the aviation industry faces mounting pressure to improve efficiency while maintaining the highest safety standards. Achieving this relies not only on updated procedures, but innovating to raise standards, equipping pilots and air traffic controllers with advanced tools to make quick, confident decisions, particularly during critical operational moments like take-off and landing, final approach or poor visibility.

Recent data from the FAA paints a clear picture of the stakes. In 2024, the U.S. recorded 1,474 runway incursions, involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on a runway. This is around four per day. Though slightly improved from the previous year, the figures point to persistent risk in zones where aircraft operate in close proximity and decisions are made in seconds.

But the risks don’t stop on the runway. In congested airspace, during visual approaches, or when navigating low-visibility conditions, maintaining safe and consistent aircraft spacing is crucial. This is where ADS-B In has started to quietly transform the rules of engagement - an advanced technology that enables aircraft flight crews to receive real-time information about the identification, position, altitude, and velocity of nearby aircraft, information previously available only to air traffic control (ATC). Whilst ADS-B Out broadcasts an aircraft’s position to ATC and other aircraft, ADS-B In allows pilots to actively receive and process this real-time traffic data directly in the cockpit. The value of this capability was starkly highlighted earlier this year during a near-miss incident in the busy airspace around Washington, D.C., which powerfully demonstrates why equipping pilots with a direct, real-time view of surrounding traffic is critical.

Technology that looks ahead

Recent operational trials on American Airlines’ A321 fleet, conducted in partnership with the FAA at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), demonstrated how ADS-B In-equipped aircraft achieve tighter spacing and shorter final approaches, without compromising safety. Two years of these trials have consistently shown that the ADS-B In system results in improved runway throughput, greater fuel efficiency, enhanced situational awareness, and elevated safety. Specifically at DFW, this translated into the potential for four to five additional landings per hour on each runway. This increase in runway throughput directly translates into new revenue opportunities for both airports and airlines, enabling greater operational capacity without the need for costly new infrastructure. Unlike traditional systems that rely solely on radar and ATC voice instructions, ADS-B In delivers real-time traffic data directly to the cockpit, giving pilots a forward-looking view of traffic up to 120 nautical miles out.

During the DFW operation, aircraft using SafeRoute+ saw a 20-second reduction in average arrival time, a 12-second drop in runway threshold spacing, and 14% shorter final approaches in low visibility. Controllers reported zero separation incidents: A clear demonstration of how layered traffic awareness enables both higher throughput and improved safety. The FAA has published a formal Benefit report summarizing all the benefits demonstrated during these operations.

For pilots, these tools aren’t just passive displays. Applications like Airborne Traffic Awareness, CDTI Assisted Visual Separation (CAVS/CAS), Interval Management (IM), and In-Trail Procedures (ITP) support proactive decision-making, whether during transatlantic flights, congested terminal areas, or challenging weather. The technology not only reduces the risk of separation loss, but it also cuts go-arounds and minimizes visual contact loss in critical phases. Furthermore, ADS-B In can provide free weather and traffic information (FIS-B and TIS-B) directly to the cockpit, eliminating the need for costly subscriptions and providing a more complete traffic picture by integrating data from both ADS-B equipped and non-equipped aircraft.

The implications are significant: safer skies don’t have to come at the cost of efficiency. In fact, the two are becoming increasingly intertwined.

Pilots as partners

One of the most profound shifts ADS-B In enables is the evolving role of the pilot. Rather than reacting to ATC instructions, pilots become active collaborators in separation assurance, armed with the same dynamic traffic data seen by controllers. In the DFW trial, pilots reported a significant boost in situational awareness, citing the intuitive interface and enhanced coordination with ATC. Pilots in the trial unanimously saw this as a safety enhancement.

This shared understanding is crucial in complex airspace. Whether executing visual approaches or navigating turbulent descent paths, cockpit-based guidance allows for smoother handoffs, fewer surprises, and more stable arrivals.

What’s emerging is not just a new set of tools, but a new model of airspace management, one that blends human expertise with machine-driven precision.

Safety, sustainability, and scale

The benefits of ADS-B In aren’t limited to collision avoidance or approach streamlining. FAA modelling suggests substantial fuel and emissions savings when the technology is adopted at scale. The DFW operations alone demonstrated the potential for an equipped airline to realize millions of pounds in fuel savings, thousands of tons in CO₂ reduction and up to 20% increase in capacity at a single operational hub. This increased precision means airspace can accommodate more flights, benefiting airlines with higher scheduling flexibility and the potential for increased revenue through improved fleet utilization.

That’s why retrofit solutions like SafeRoute+ are gaining traction. Installed via software onto existing ACSS T3CAS or TCAS 3000SP systems, SafeRoute+ avoids expensive hardware overhauls, offering airlines a faster, more cost-effective path to safer, greener operations. Investing in this technology early also positions airlines to comply with emerging regulatory mandates as global aviation authorities push for greater adoption of next-generation air traffic management technologies. Evidencing this growth in demand, American Airlines is currently equipping its entire Airbus fleet with this technology. This large-scale commitment involves both line-fitting new aircraft and retrofitting existing ones, demonstrating the viability and value of the solution across a diverse, modern fleet.

A safety toolkit for modern aviation

In aviation, innovation rightly proceeds with caution. However, the evidence from DFW is increasingly hard to ignore: when pilots are equipped with better tools, the system performs better across safety, efficiency, and environmental metrics.

The challenge now is ensuring momentum. For ADS-B In technology to reach its full potential, adoption must accelerate. That requires regulatory support, airline investment, and continued collaboration between OEMs, tech partners, and authorities.