Growing Up on an Island, Flights Were Our Lifeline—Now, ADS-B and Derad Network Are Making Them…

Growing Up on an Island, Flights Were Our Lifeline—Now, ADS-B and Derad Network Are Making Them More Accessible

Growing up in an archipelago, flying has been a lifeline whenever I’m visiting my families in various different islands. From where I live, planes weren’t just seen as convenient mode of transportation, but they were essential, especially when reaching remote places. They carried medical supplies, food, and families trying to reconnect. But even today, flying between islands or across vast stretches of ocean comes with uncertainty. Weather can change in an instant, and without proper tracking, flights can disappear from radar, leaving pilots and passengers vulnerable. That’s why ADS-B and the Derad Network matter so much, as they’re making it more accessible for people in places like mine.

Photo by Ninja on Unsplash

For years, traditional radar had its limits. It worked well over cities and busy airports, but once you were out over the open sea or deep in the mountains, planes often flew blind to air traffic control. Now with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, aircrafts are now allowed to determine their position via satellite and broadcast it in real time, it gave pilots, air traffic controllers, and even other planes a much clearer picture of what was happening in the skies.

For inter-island travel, this is a game-changer. Smaller aircraft that shuttle between islands often fly through unpredictable weather, and ADS-B gives pilots the ability to navigate these conditions with greater confidence. Airlines operating in remote areas, like those in the Pacific or Southeast Asia, now have access to real-time flight data, improving safety and efficiency.

Read: How ADS-B Adoption is Shaping Aviation Regulations and Reducing Accidents — Derad NetworkThe Gaps That Still Exist—And How Derad Network Fills Them

Well now, the bad news is, ADS-B coverage depends on ground stations, and in many remote areas, those stations simply don’t exist. That means flights over vast ocean stretches, rural landscapes, and isolated islands still face tracking blind spots.

The good news is, Derad Network is here to save the day! Derad uses a decentralized model, meaning anyone—from local businesses to individuals—can set up small, affordable ground stations to expand coverage. It’s like crowd-sourced air traffic surveillance, giving remote regions the ability to track flights that would otherwise vanish from the grid.

For us in island communities, this is phenomenal. Imagine a fisherman on a distant atoll being able to track a plane carrying urgent medical supplies. Or a small airline in the Philippines ensuring their pilots have constant tracking, even over remote waters. With Derad Network, these once-impossible scenarios are becoming reality.

Read: The Air Traffic Safety Gap: How You Can Help (and Get Paid For It)