American Airlines Announces Industry Leading Safety-Enhancing ADS-B In Installations

American Airlines has announced that they have equipped more aircraft with ADS-B In technology than any other airline in the world.  This technology improves safety by painting an even more complete picture of airspace for pilots.

American Airlines Announces the Equipping of More Aircraft with ADS-B In Technology Than any Other Airline in the World - Courtesy American Airlines

On Thursday (September 4, 2025), American Airlines announced the equipping of more aircraft with ADS-B In technology than any other airline in the world. This technology improves safety by painting an even more complete picture of airspace for pilots, while enhancing efficiency by more accurately managing aircraft separation throughout all phases of flight.  U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) trials have yielded successful results that could lay the groundwork for a modernized Air Traffic Control (ATC) system in the future.

In Friday’s announcement, American Airlines’ Chief Operating Officer, David Seymour, said,

“ADS-B In is another layer of safety that has been available for our Airbus pilots for several years.  Installing technology that improves the safety of flight, while also improving efficiency, gives American an operational head start in the modernized air traffic control system that is long overdue.”

American Airlines’ entire fleet of over 300 Airbus A321 aircraft has ADS-B In equipment, including nearly 150 new delivery A321neo aircraft on order.  This technology provides pilots with an enhanced view of their surroundings.  Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), allows aircraft to send and receive GPS-based position and other data, including altitude and speed.  The ability for aircraft to receive this information from other surrounding aircraft is considered ADS-B In, while the ability for aircraft to broadcast this information is considered ADS-B Out.  When an aircraft receives this data, it provides pilots with a highly enhanced view of air traffic around them.  Additionally, the data is received by the FAA and other air navigation service providers worldwide for air traffic control purposes.

The carrier has selected ACSS to equip their A321 fleet with the SafeRoute+ gauge.  The gauge interfaces with the aircraft’s computers and displays the ADS-B data, allowing crews to better see their position relative to surrounding traffic and more accurately manage aircraft separation. This provides pilots even better data and information than current generation safety technologies.

The first FAA trial took place at the Dallas-Fort Worth Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), an FAA facility that controls air traffic arriving and departing within about 40 miles of American’s largest hub, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).  Using this ADS-B In technology, participating flights operated by American’s A321 aircraft were able to safely operate in lower visibility conditions at a higher throughput, while also reducing the number of missed approaches and go arounds.

The second FAA trial took place at the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), an enroute facility responsible for airspace across five states, including traffic arriving and departing from American’s hub at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). This trial used the power of ADS-B In to enable American’s A321 aircraft arriving at PHX be spaced at precise intervals, creating more efficient airspace that could have up to a 25 percent capacity increase at scale.

Source: American Airlines