Some observers are not sure ADS-B will be ready by 2020 or, if it is, whether the benefits promised by the FAA will be available. In September 2014, doubters got a boost when the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General (DOTIG) reported “ADS-B benefits are limited due to a lack of advanced capabilities and delays in user equipage.”
According to the DOTIG, the FAA “has not sufficiently tested the entire ADS-B system” and what testing has been performed is incomplete because the FAA “has not fully resolved problems identified” in the ADS-B operational testing it has completed. Additionally and significantly for general aviation according to the DOTIG, “While ADS-B provides some useful services, these capabilities have been limited, discouraging some users from investing in ADS-B. At the same time, requirements for ADS-B IN’s advanced capabilities continue to evolve, creating significant challenges related to certifying ADS-B avionics, maturing advanced capabilities, and partnering with airlines to verify and validate benefits and gain experience through demonstration projects.”
