Between an inherent tendency to procrastinate, an expectation of lowering prices and a faint hope that the 2020 deadline would—like an affordable substitute for leaded avgas—quietly recede into the indefinite future, I did nothing about ADS-B Out until late this past year. By then, it appeared that the deadline was inexorable and the hoped-for $49.95 solution was not at hand. I began to consult Google for help.
A Beacon’s Tale
Key Takeaways:
- Driven by procrastination and a need for frugality, the author chose the uAvionix tailBeacon for ADS-B Out compliance due to its promise of easy, no-wiring-modification installation.
- Initial FAA performance reports showed errors, leading the author through a frustrating and ultimately unnecessary process of replacing his transponder multiple times, only to find out the "errors" were due to low-altitude ADS-B coverage limitations, not a faulty system.
- The non-TSO UAT tailBeacon came with unforeseen downsides, including ineligibility for FAA rebates and operational limits above 18,000 feet or outside the US, alongside broader sociopolitical concerns about privacy, mitigated by an available "anonymous" mode.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
