The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

My newly installed tailbeacon seems to be working OK. However, on some occasions when I complete a flight and check for the track, etc., on flight aware there will be no record of the flight. On other occasions, it shows up clearly. Anyone know why this might be happening? The last calibration function works for all flights.

What altitude were you flying?

Mostly about 1500 AGL.

I believe that FlightAware uses a network of volunteers with ADS-B ground receivers to show VFR traffic that aren't on flight plans. If there is not someone in the area receiving your ADS-B and feeding the location to the FlightAware you won't show up. Here in AZ I always disappear and reappear at about the same places when I go north and east of Phoenix.

Thanks for the information. Good to know. I thought maybe my ADSB was intermittent.

I'm pretty sure you can check on the FAA web site (whenever you want) as long as you have the N number and the date and approximate time of the flight. Note the coverage map...

https://adsbperformance.faa.gov/PAPRRequest.aspx

If you have anonymous mode on you will not show up when squawking VFR. I've noticed 978UAT systems don't show up on flight aware as consistently as 1098 ADSB systems.

Off topic, but, (I know naught about Flight Aware) One guy I installed a tail beacon for told me his history disappeared from Flight Aware when he started flying with ADS-B and all he could see was the new flights.