Fourteen Associations Sign Letter To FAA Administrator Michael Huerta

A coalition of 14 General Aviation advocacy groups has sent a letter to the FAA calling on the agency to even more closely with the industry as the January 1, 2020 deadline for equipping with ADS-B Out (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) approaches. Cost and available options remain significant stumbling blocks for owners and operators.

ADS-B is the backbone upon which the FAA is building its Next Generation Air Traffic System (NextGen). At a minimum, it requires aircraft owners, whether individuals or companies, to install a GPS receiver and one of two types of transceivers for broadcasting the aircraft’s position information to air traffic controllers and other properly equipped aircraft. Meeting the minimum standard using currently available equipment will cost an aircraft owner approximately $4,000 in equipment and $1,000 in labor per aircraft. Installing the equipment necessary to take full advantage of the system will cost thousands more.

In a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, the leaders of the 14 aviation organizations expressed appreciation for FAA leadership’s willingness to work with the general aviation industry to hasten ADS-B implementation, but added, “[I]t is also imperative that the FAA’s technical standards office makes working with equipment manufacturers and our organizations its highest priority in order to meet this mandate on general aviation. Failure to do so will hamper participation in ADS-B, prevent the full realization of safety benefits, reduce general aviation activity, and create economic hardships.”

The letter notes that owners of aircraft that do not have standard airworthiness certificates face an especially confusing situation in determining how to comply with the mandate.

Those signing the letter included the leaders of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the Helicopter Association International (HAI) the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), the American Bonanza Society, the Antique Airplane Association, Cardinal Flyers, the Cessna Pilots Society, the Citation Jet Pilots Owner Pilot Association, the Classic Jet Aircraft Association, the Commemorative Air Force, the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, and the Seaplane Pilots Association.

“By working together we can help the general aviation community meet the FAA’s mandate and improve safety for all airspace users,” the leaders concluded. “We look forward to working with you to ensure that all segments of the aviation system can participate in a more modern, safe, and efficient airspace system.”

(FAA graphic)

FMI: www.faa.gov