Researchers at Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology have released the initial findings from a nationwide survey examining the perspectives of pilots and aircraft owners on Electronic Conspicuity (EC) technology, such as ADS-B.
The survey of more than 450 pilots found wide support for the technology’s safety benefits while highlighting “significant concerns” about privacy and regulatory enforcement, according to the Purdue researchers.
Why This Matters
The study, “Electronic Conspicuity Technology for Aircraft Operating in the National Airspace System,” comes at a pivotal time for the aviation industry, the researchers noted. It follows the FAA’s recently proposed rule, Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations, which represents the nation’s first comprehensive framework for routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations.
As the FAA and the aviation industry seek to safely integrate increasing numbers of uncrewed aircraft into the National Airspace System, Electronic Conspicuity (EC) technologies are expected to play a critical role in improving situational awareness among both crewed and uncrewed aircraft, the researchers noted.
EC refers to technologies that electronically transmit and receive an aircraft’s identity, position, altitude, velocity, and other flight information, allowing nearby aircraft and ground systems to detect one another and improve situational awareness. While Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is the most widely recognized example, EC is a broader concept that encompasses emerging technologies designed to support cooperative surveillance, detect-and-avoid capabilities, and future UAS Traffic Management (UTM) services. By enabling aircraft to become electronically “visible” to one another, this technology can reduce the risk of collision and improve the safe integration of drones operating in shared airspace, the researchers said.
Because future regulations may rely on EC or similar technologies to support detect-and-avoid capabilities and shared airspace operations, understanding how the general aviation community views these technologies is becoming increasingly important, the researchers noted.
They added that their research “provides one of the first nationwide assessments of pilot acceptance, identifying both the perceived safety benefits and the concerns that could influence future adoption.”
More About the Survey
The online survey, conducted between Oct. 2, 2025, and Jan. 18, 2026, was completed by 454 participants, with aircraft owners representing 62% of respondents. Responses were received from all nine FAA regions, providing a broad cross-section of the U.S. aviation community.
The majority of respondents (62.2%) reported flying Normal Category aircraft, followed by Utility Category aircraft (14.3%). Recreational flying accounted for nearly three-quarters (72.4%) of primary aircraft use, while the largest groups of respondents held either an instrument rating (25.9%) or a private pilot certificate (24.5%).
Nearly half of participants (49.2%) reported operating primarily in Class E airspace, followed by Class D (23.9%) and Class G (11%). Most respondents (57.7%) indicated they typically fly between 2,500 feet above ground level (AGL) and 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), while 27% primarily operate below 2,500 feet AGL. The largest demographic group consisted of pilots over the age of 65.
Strong Support for Safety Benefits
The survey found overwhelming agreement that EC technology enhances aviation safety. More than 82% of respondents agreed that EC improves their personal safety while flying, while 83.3% agreed that it improves the overall safety of the National Airspace System.
Additionally, 68% of respondents believed the safety benefits of EC technology outweigh its associated costs. The findings suggest that pilots recognize the value of EC as a way to improve situational awareness and reduce the risk of midair collisions.
“This is particularly significant as the FAA evaluates technologies that could support the safe coexistence of traditional aircraft and an expanding population of uncrewed aircraft operating beyond visual line of sight,” the researchers said.
The survey also found that much of the general aviation community has already adopted technologies that support electronic visibility. Nearly 80% (79.3%) of respondents indicated that their aircraft are already equipped with ADS-B transmitters, demonstrating a high level of existing participation in cooperative surveillance technologies.
ADS-B Out has been required since 2020 for all aircraft flying in the busiest airspace around the nation, with some calls to mandate ADS-B In by 2031.
When asked about EC specifically, 74% of the respondents reported being at least somewhat familiar with the term, while 26% indicated little to no familiarity.
Researchers added they identified a strong relationship between familiarity and acceptance. Pilots who were more familiar with EC were less concerned about costs and more likely to agree that the technology provides meaningful safety benefits.
“These findings suggest that educational outreach may play a significant role in future adoption,” the researchers said. “As policymakers and the aviation industry prepare for broader implementation of Electronic Conspicuity technologies, increasing awareness among pilots and aircraft owners may help improve acceptance while addressing misconceptions regarding costs and operational benefits.”
But Do Safety Benefits Outweigh Costs?
Support for EC technology remained strong across nearly every demographic group, the researchers reported.
Approximately 68.8% of respondents across all age groups agreed that the safety benefits justify the cost of equipping their aircraft. Pilots under the age of 34 expressed the strongest support, with 85.7% agreeing that the benefits outweigh the expense.
Support was even stronger among respondents who primarily use aircraft for flight training, where 90.3% agreed that EC technology provides value exceeding its cost.
When asked specifically about affordability, nearly one-quarter (23.7%) reported no concern regarding the cost of EC technology. Among respondents expressing some level of concern, 84.6% indicated they would be willing to spend at least $100 on EC equipment, while 56.8% said they would spend $500 or more.
However, several participants expressed concern that EC data may be used to collect revenue, such as landing fees or other types of user fees.
These findings suggest that cost alone may not be the primary obstacle to broader implementation, according to the researchers.
“Instead, they indicate that many pilots are willing to invest in EC technology if it demonstrably improves safety and is implemented in a manner that addresses operational concerns,” they said. “Combined with the relationship between familiarity and acceptance, the results indicate that education and outreach could be as important as affordability in encouraging future equipage.”
The Biggest Concern
Despite widespread support for EC technology, respondents expressed “substantial concern” about how electronically transmitted aircraft data could be used.
Nearly half (48.4%) agreed that EC presents privacy concerns, while 83.9% expressed some concern that EC data could be used for FAA or regulatory enforcement actions.
Privacy concerns increased with age, with a majority of respondents over 45 indicating significant concern, the researchers noted.
Aircraft use also influenced opinions. More than half of recreational pilots (50.8%) and commercial operators (60%) identified privacy as a primary concern, while only 31.9% of respondents who use aircraft primarily for training expressed similar concerns.
Concerns regarding regulatory enforcement followed a similar pattern. More than half of respondents across nearly every age group expressed concern that EC information could be used for enforcement purposes. The exception was pilots younger than 23, where 48.1% reported little or no concern.
Among aircraft use categories, 66.9% of recreational pilots and 56.1% of commercial operators expressed concern over enforcement, compared with 48.6% of respondents using aircraft primarily for training.
The results highlight an important policy consideration for regulators, the researchers said.
“While pilots generally support the safety objectives of Electronic Conspicuity, successful implementation will likely depend on addressing concerns regarding privacy, data governance, and how electronically transmitted information may be used outside of safety applications,” they said. “As the FAA develops policies supporting routine BVLOS operations, public acceptance of these technologies may prove just as important as their technical capabilities.”
The researchers believe their study “provides timely insight” as the FAA and aviation industry work toward integrating uncrewed aircraft into a shared National Airspace System.
“By quantifying pilot perceptions of safety, affordability, familiarity, privacy, and regulatory enforcement, the research contributes to a better understanding of the human factors that will influence adoption of Electronic Conspicuity technologies,” they said.
Over the coming year, the Purdue team will continue their research to better understand general aviation’s attitudes toward EC technology and identify factors influencing future adoption. As analysis continues, researchers expect to explore additional relationships between pilot demographics, operational experience, technology awareness, and acceptance “to further support evidence-based policymaking and the safe evolution of the National Airspace System.”
Dr. Damon Lercel, an assistant professor in university’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology, led the study.
For more information: Purdue.edu
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