Story ID: 
Canada Delays ADS-B Out Mandate
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: Scheduled to take effect in 2021, Canada has shelved its  ADS-B Out performance requirements, citing concerns from stakeholders and industry.
Word Count: 271
In response to feedback from stakeholders and the industry, Nav Canada has delayed its ADS-B Out performance requirements mandate, originally slated to begin in 2021, stating that more time is required to prepare for its implementation. The company noted that ADS-B will be used for surveillance in Class A airspace starting in February 2021, but there will be no mandate for equipage until regulatory changes are made to the existing regulations.

The postponement of the mandate will allow Nav Canada to develop the regulatory framework with Transport Canada, as well as provide additional time for the equipment certification process associated with antenna diversity requirements. Christine Gervais, Nav Canada’s manager for level of service, told AIN that operators will be given at least a year’s notice once the mandate is finalized.

According to the U.S. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Transport Canada was calling for requiring a 1090-MHz extended squitter (1090ES) ADS-B Out with top- and bottom-mounted transponder antennas to reliably enable satellites to receive data transmitted from the aircraft. The postponement is in recognition of data showing that satellites cannot receive data from belly-mounted antennas alone with enough reliability to meet the stated performance requirements, AOPA said.

“We’re still exploring what might be possible with space-based ADS-B, but it is clear that there could be considerable compatibility issues for the majority of general aviation," said Rune Duke, AOPA’s senior director of airspace, air traffic, and aviation. “Besides the antenna reception concerns, general aviation is also looking for FIS-B and TIS-B benefits that are reliant on a ground-based ADS-B network.”