Plans To Immobilize Airplanes That Are Not Equipped On January 1, 2020

Aero-News April 1 Special Edition

Think the FAA is not serious about preventing non-ADS-B equipped airplanes from using controlled airspace after the January 1, 2020 deadline? Think again. The agency has been stockpiling boot devices it intends to place on the thousands of airplanes it anticipates will not have the proper equipment installed by the end of the year.

Aero-News has obtained copies of purchase orders for several thousand of the devices which are used by municipalities to immobilize cars that have violated parking ordinances, along with internal memos indicating that the agency intends to coordinate with TSA to fan out among the nation's airports at midnight on January 1, 2020 to install them on planes that have not yet equipped.

The FAA has records of the N-numbers of aircraft which have had the proper ADS-B Out devices installed. In the memo, FAA acting administrator Daniel Elwell says that TSA will be provided with the registration numbers and last known airport location of aircraft which have missed the deadline. The memo indicates that the effort will prioritize business aircraft such as business jets and high-performance pistons that are most likely to be using controlled airspace. But all GA aircraft will be "targets of opportunity" for a boot, according to the memo.

An FAA employee not authorized to speak to the media told ANN that Elwell had been looking for a way to get the attention of President Trump in an effort to be nominated to the Administrator's post on a permanent basis. "This might be just the kind of thing that would get the President's attention," the source said. "We know he likes big, splashy things. It might even be a national emergency."

"Apparently, that didn't work, but if Senate Democrats treat Steve Dickenson like they did Justice Kavanaugh ... well you never know ...

"Anyway, we've said over and over that the deadline is not going to slip," our source said, snapping back to reality. "So if you go out to fly in January and find your airplane is booted ... well, you were warned."

FMI: www.faa.gov