Requested By The Chairmen Of The House Committee On Transportation And Infrastructure And Its Aviation Subcommittee

Implementing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is a complex undertaking and requires joint investments from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airspace users to realize expected benefits. There are several key NextGen technologies that require airspace users to purchase and install new avionics on their aircraft, including the Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS B).

Citing concerns about whether operators will meet the 2020 deadline, the Chairmen of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its Aviation Subcommittee requested that the OIG provide information regarding equipage rates for ADS-B and other NextGen technologies on air carrier and general aviation aircraft as well as the reasons operators decide to equip their aircraft. In addition, they requested that the OIG assess plans in place for meeting the 2020 ADS-B Out deadline.

The FAA has mandated that aircraft operating in most controlled domestic airspace be equipped with ADS-B Out technology by January 1, 2020. The audit objectives are to: (1) determine the equipage rates for ADS-B and other NextGen-enabling technologies on commercial and general aviation aircraft; (2) ascertain the reasons behind aircraft operators’ decisions to equip or not equip with these technologies; and (3) assess FAA and aircraft operators’ plans to meet the 2020 ADS-B Out equipage deadline.

The OIG plans to begin its audit in June. Work will be conducted at FAA Headquarters and other locations as necessary.

(Source: DOT OIG)

FMI: www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/Audit%20Announcement%20-%20NextGen%20Equipage%20Rates%205-17-18.pdf