Briefing: December 2018

Last year, the FAA offered a $500 rebate to aircraft operators who installed new equipment to meet the 2020 ADS-B mandate, but that offer expired in September 2017. Now the FAA has reinstated the program, with enough funding for 9,800 more rebates. The offer will end on October 11, 2019, or when the money runs out. The FAA has repeatedly said the compliance deadline wont be pushed back, and any aircraft lacking ADS-B-out wont be allowed to fly in most controlled airspace after Jan. 1, 2020. The ADS-B mandate is not going away, said FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell. Now is the time for aircraft owners to equip. More details can be found atwww.faa.gov/nextgen/equipadsb/.

Editorial Staff

Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has reinstated its $500 ADS-B rebate program, offering 9,800 more rebates until October 2019 or funds run out, emphasizing the January 2020 compliance deadline.
Congress passed a five-year, $90 billion FAA reauthorization bill, the longest-term funding since 1982, which includes GA-friendly provisions like no user fees or ATC privatization.
The NTSB concluded its investigation into the 2017 San Francisco International Airport close call, attributing it to flight crew misidentification of a taxiway for a runway, confusing information, and fatigue.
EAA, supported by a $1 million grant from the Ray Foundation, will fund up to 100 young people annually with $10,000 scholarships each for flight training.

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FAA Revives ADS-B Rebates

Last year, the FAA offered a $500 rebate to aircraft operators who installed new equipment to meet the 2020 ADS-B mandate, but that offer expired in September 2017. Now the FAA has reinstated the program, with enough funding for 9,800 more rebates. The offer will end on October 11, 2019, or when the money runs out. The FAA has repeatedly said the compliance deadline won’t be pushed back, and any aircraft lacking ADS-B-out won’t be allowed to fly in most controlled airspace after Jan. 1, 2020. “The ADS-B mandate is not going away,” said FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell. “Now is the time for aircraft owners to equip.” More details can be found atwww.faa.gov/nextgen/equipadsb/.

FAA Reauthorization Bill Passed

After years of operating on short-term budget extensions, Congress has passed a five-year, $90 billion bill to fund the FAA, the longest-term FAA bill since 1982. In a statement posted online, the FAA said the bill “delivers a safer, more secure and efficient aviation system to the traveling public and helps fuel economic growth and competitiveness.” GA advocacy groups noted several GA-friendly provisions — no user fees, no ATC privatization, and insurance protections for volunteer pilots who conduct charitable flights. The bill also removes some restrictions on designated pilot examiners that should make it easier for pilots to schedule checkrides.