What type of data does Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transmit?

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transmits crucial information about an aircraft's identification, altitude, and position. This system enhances situational awareness for both pilots and air traffic controllers by providing real-time data that can be received by other aircraft and ground stations.

The aircraft identification includes the unique identifier assigned to the aircraft, which is essential for tracking. The altitude information helps in understanding the vertical position of an aircraft, while the position data gives precise geographic coordinates. This combination of data is critical for maintaining safe distances between aircraft, improving overall air traffic management efficiency, and allowing for better navigation.

The other options do not accurately represent the purpose of ADS-B. While weather conditions may be provided by other systems, ADS-B specifically focuses on surveillance data. Air traffic control instructions are transmitted through different communication means and are not part of the ADS-B system itself. Fuel consumption rates are also not relevant to the functions of ADS-B, which is concentrated on surveillance rather than operational efficiency metrics.