EAA Ensuring No GA Aircraft Is Left Behind In ADS-B Mandate

As the FAA announces its rebate program for installation of ADS-B in GA aircraft flying in controlled airspace by the required date of 2020, EAA says they are continuing to support the efforts through its involvement in the FAA/industry Equip 2020 working group, especially for some groups of airplanes that are not given attention as part of the larger general aviation fleet.

“Great progress has been made, but there is still more work to do,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “EAA continues to press for a clear pathway for S-LSA equipage does that not currently exist, because a significant number of S-LSAs no longer have factory support or are orphaned with literally no more factory!”

Just in case you get confused by the alphabet soup of aircraft certification designations, a special light sport (S-LSA) is an aircraft produced by a manufacturer as a completely flyable airplane that is certificated through industry ASTM standards. These aircraft carry a special airworthiness certificate and, because they are certificated as S-LSA’s, they meet the requirement for sport pilot operation. These concerns regarding ADS-B installation do not apply to experimental light sport aircraft (E-LSA) or experimental amateur built aircraft (E-AB).

The problem arises because S-LSAs cannot be modified without manufacturer consent. If the manufacturer does not exist or is unwilling to permit choices in the way of ADS-B equipage, it’s a barrier to 2020 compliance for owners. EAA is working to ensure that those aircraft, numbering in the thousands, have an affordable process to equip by the deadline just as the rest of GA aircraft are doing. This month, Elliott will represent EAA members in Washington at an Equip 2020 working group meeting to continue the dialogue and give all aircraft owners an equal voice as this important deadline nears.

Image from file

FMI www.eaa.org