How to launch the balloon in regard to real aircraft traffic

We plan on declaring our launch to the DGAC (french FAA), but an idea could be to add ADS-B to the balloon in order to make it known and declared on the radar, like a transponder.

Here's the description from Wikipedia :


Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is a surveillance technology for tracking aircraft as part of theNext Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).^[1] The United States will require the majority of aircraft operating within its airspace to be equipped with some form of ADS-B Out by January 1, 2020.

In French with more details :

L'Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) est un nouveau système de surveillance coopératif pour le contrôle du trafic aérien et d'autres applications connexes. Un avion équipé de l'ADS-B détermine sa position par un système de positionnement par satellite (GNSS) et envoie périodiquement cette position et d'autres informations aux stations sol et aux autres appareils équipés de l'ADS-B évoluant dans la zone.

http://www.coaa.co.uk/planeplotter.htm

This program shows the following digital signals : ACARS, ADS-B and HFDL

There is already a DIY ADB-S receiver existing. As stated on DIYdrones.com, it would be great to have an arduino based project that enable the HAB community to broadcast the position of a balloon.


In order to monitor air traffic control, you can use PlanePlotter, that is an implementation of the protocol, plotting on a map live air traffic control.

Download in english here

Telecharger en français ici