Time To Bite The Bullet?

Unless youve been living under a rock, youve probably heard of ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. As of January 1, 2020, youll need this equipment to routinely fly in U.S. airspace where the FARs now require a working Mode C transponder. The FAA rule mandating ADS-B in 2020 went into effect in 2010, so theres little argument that operators havent had enough warning about it, and its not likely the FAA will change the deadline. There are two flavors of ADS-B, the in and out kinds. For now, only ADS-B Out is required in 2020; ADS-B In is optional. Both flavors are operational today, as the two coverage maps below demonstrate.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

ADS-B Out is mandatory for most U.S. airspace by January 1, 2020, to operate where Mode C transponders are required, while ADS-B In (for traffic and weather) remains optional.
There are two ADS-B Out technologies: 978 UAT (for U.S. airspace below 18,000 ft, supports FIS-B, requires a separate Mode C transponder) and 1090 ES (for all altitudes and international use, but needs an additional receiver for FIS-B data).
Both ADS-B Out types require an accurate WAAS GPS position source, and choosing a solution involves complex considerations regarding aircraft usage, existing avionics, cost, and functionality tradeoffs between the two technologies.

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. As of January 1, 2020, you’ll need this equipment to routinely fly in U.S. airspace where the FARs now require a working Mode C transponder. The FAA rule mandating ADS-B in 2020 went into effect in 2010, so there’s little argument that operators haven’t had enough warning about it, and it’s not likely the FAA will change the deadline. There are two flavors of ADS-B, the “in” and “out” kinds. For now, only ADS-B Out is required in 2020; ADS-B In is optional. Both flavors are operational today, as the two coverage maps below demonstrate.

You or a pilot you know may already be flying with ADS-B In, perhaps using a portable receiver, but that’s a relatively easy and inexpensive option, at least as far as aviation is concerned. Until recently, there weren’t many low-cost options for ADS-B Out. That’s changing, however, and a new crop of products from various manufacturers may be as good and inexpensively priced as we’re going to see before the deadline. In the four-plus years before the deadline, it’s highly likely other products will be developed and brought to market. But as the deadline looms closer, demand will rise, as may prices. Is it time to make what may be a 20-year, $10,000 decision, and commit to a specific ADS-B solution?