With just 16 months until the FAA’s ADS-B equipage deadline, MRO provider Duncan Aviation has analyzed the current rate of compliance and found that 52 percent of the U.S.-registered business aircraft fleet has not yet had the necessary installation. According to the Nebraska-based company, despite the fact that the FAA has continually reiterated that the Jan. 1, 2020 deadline will not slip, Duncan says 14,000 business aircraft in the U.S. still require the upgrade.
Duncan noted that some of its satellite avionics shops are already full through year-end and into first- quarter 2019, amid industry reports of shortages of qualified technicians and hangar space. “For the time being, we have some unique geographic and parts availability advantages that we can use to help operators get a plan in place,” said Matt Nelson, the company’s manager of satellite operations. “However, those windows are closing.”
Duncan owns or has access to 42 STCs for dozens of aircraft models, and with hundreds of ADS-B installations under its belt, stated it can usually turn aircraft in less than 10 days.