Comment by varenc 4 days ago
Seems like it wasn't actually spoofed radio signals, but spoofed data collection uploaded to adsbexchange. Still seems unlikely to make the FAA happy, but not as bad. I assume air traffic controllers aren't relying on adsbexchange?
I highly doubt any ATC on duty is looking at a public ADS-B aggregator as a real time source of information for his or her job.
There are non-radar towers that don't have scopes. They may have a traffic display, or maybe not. They might choose to use a public ADS-B aggregator site because it gives them situational awareness, but they don't use it to provide radar services to aircraft. That's my understanding from listening to a lot podcast episodes with air traffic controllers, anyway. I think it's an unofficial, non-FAA approved kind of thing that can make their jobs easier.
See https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html... for non-radar ATC procedures.
> They might choose to use a public ADS-B aggregator site because it gives them situational awareness
I do not understand what the upside is, aside from saving a tiny amount of effort and cost -- they could get the same data with more reliability by just running their own ADS-B receiver, without having a dependency on a third-party.
if there is any critical aviation service using a 3rd party website that relies on volunteer reporting of data, they deserve whatever happens
Maybe not "rely" on, but some definitely use public ADS-B aggregator sites.