ADS-B is in fact in widespread use over Australia. Australian airspace is about 70-80% non radar due to how much area it covers. ADS-B stations have been placed in Western, Central and Eastern Australia (the North still has a gap) Many operators are equipped (some major ones being QANTAS, Virgin Blue, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Atlas Air)However, it is still on a trial use - it eliminates the requirement for position reports from aircraft, but procedural separation standards must be applied (rather than the much more flexible radar separation standards.)However, Stage 3 will be moved into shortly and radar separation standards can be applied between ADS-B equipped aircraft where no radar previously existed.

>>maybe longer in the US since the>>FAA progress is measured in decades>>rather than yearsTrue. In fact, 'FAA' and 'progress' probably shouldn't be used in the same sentence. My friend has a shirt that says "FAA Mission Statement: We're not happy until you're not happy." I'd say that's pretty accurate.Kyle