Rule-compliant ADS-B equipment is now installed aboard 10,000 aircraft flying in the U.S., the FAA announced yesterday at the Equip 2020 working group meeting. Since ADS-B is the linchpin of the FAA’s NextGen program, the agency established the working group in October to encourage ADS-B equipage and address challenges.
“This significant milestone shows that thousands of U.S. aircraft are already experiencing the many benefits that ADS-B equipage offers, including enhanced surveillance, especially at lower altitudes, better situational awareness and free in-cockpit weather and traffic,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “With more than a dozen products on the market and more on the way, the cost of equipment has dropped and operators have a choice of cost-effective solutions that meet the FAA’s mandate.
“ADS-B will be particularly important for general aviation operators as the FAA fully integrates unmanned aerial systems [UAS] into the National Airspace System, introducing thousands of UAS into a crowded airspace,” Bunce added. “By choosing to equip now, operators are investing in their safety; they are also ensuring they meet the 2020 deadline before installation lines grow long.”
The FAA estimates that 100,000 to 160,000 general aviation aircraft will need to be equipped with ADS-B OUT before the Jan. 1, 2020 mandate.