Story ID: 
DOT Watchdog: Genav Behind on ADS-B Equipage
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: Industry-wide equipage for ADS-B Out jumped 69 percent between May 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019.
Word Count: 204
Industry-wide equipage for ADS-B Out jumped 69 percent between May 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019, but general aviation is lagging behind business and commercial aviation, the Department of Transportation Inspector General (DOT IG) reported today. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee asked the DOT IG to examine equipage rates, plans for equipage, and reasons in equipage decision-making. Given the Jan. 1, 2020 ADS-B Out deadline, the DOT IG provided a preliminary report on equipage rates as of June 1.

As of June, 73,421 commercial and general aviation aircraft were in compliance with the ADS-B-Out mandate, the DOT IG found. Overall, 76 percent of commercial aircraft were equipped, while only 44 percent of general aviation aircraft were. Smaller commercial carriers were equipping at slower rates than the mainline and regionals and even business jet and turboprop operators, according to the DOT IG. By June 1, 44 percent of small commercial aircraft had equipped versus 63 percent of business jets and turboprops. Meanwhile, only 40 percent of piston operators have equipped.

The DOT IG estimated that 143,322 general aircraft may be equipped, including 22,596 business jets and turboprops. At the beginning of June, 14,166 business jets/turboprops and 48,238 pistons were equipped. The FAA has reported close to 13,500 more general aviation aircraft were equipped between June 1 and September 1.