Purdue Study: GA Pilots Value ADS-B Safety, Yet Concerned About Privacy
A groundbreaking nationwide survey conducted by Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology unveils a significant dichotomy in the perception of general aviation pilots towards ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) and Electronic Conspicuity (EC) technology. This pioneering study, which surveyed 454 pilots and aircraft owners across all nine FAA regions, was carried out between October 2025 and January 2026.
The survey results highlight that an overwhelming majority of respondents acknowledge the safety enhancements offered by ADS-B, especially its potential to bolster situational awareness in shared airspace. However, the pilots also expressed considerable apprehension about data privacy, regulatory enforcement, and the emerging contentious issue of using ADS-B flight tracking data by airports to calculate landing fees. Notably, aircraft owners constituted 62% of the respondents, with the majority operating Normal Category aircraft.
The Purdue researchers emphasize that these findings arrive at a crucial juncture, as the FAA is progressing with proposed rules to standardize beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations and shared airspace. These are scenarios where EC technologies like ADS-B are expected to be pivotal. The study, titled “Electronic Conspicuity Technology for Aircraft Operating in the National Airspace System”, is anticipated to guide future FAA policy and equipment mandates in the forthcoming years.
Source: General Aviation News – Purdue ADS-B Survey (August 7, 2026)