Battery-Powered ADS-B Out Transmitters Coming?

Stephen Pope

Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 09:37 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

New FAA-approved, TSO-compliant battery-powered ADS-B Out transceivers are soon to be available after extensive testing.
These low-cost units will be primarily limited to gliders and general aviation aircraft without electrical systems, not the majority of Part 23 GA planes.
This restriction is frustrating for GA pilots and advocacy groups, who are pushing the FAA to broaden approval for lower-cost ADS-B solutions amidst the looming 2020 mandate.

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Will we soon be seeing fully TSO compliant battery-powered ADS-B Out transceivers that are approved by the FAA for the 2020 equipment mandate? Yes, we will. But don’t get too excited just yet.

Unfortunately you probably won’t be permitted to install the gear in the airplane you fly. That’s because under the new TSO guidance that avionics makers say they are reviewing, the battery-powered ADS-B Out products would be intended for use only in gliders and general aviation aircraft certified without electrical systems.