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:
- The author, after procrastinating on ADS-B Out compliance, chose the uAvionix tailBeacon for its promised frugal cost and easy installation as a tail light replacement.
- Initial FAA performance reports showed errors, leading to frustrating troubleshooting and unnecessary transponder replacements, only to discover the "issues" were due to low-altitude ADS-B coverage limitations.
- Despite the eventual success, the author later realized his non-TSO UAT tailBeacon choice came with downsides, including ineligibility for FAA rebates and restrictions on high-altitude or international operations.
- The article also touches on sociopolitical and privacy concerns regarding ADS-B, noting the "anonymous" mode feature available for UAT devices.
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