Published: May 8 2020
According to the FAA, aircrafts operating in most controlled airspace—anywhere a Mode C transponder is required—must comply with the ADS-B Out mandate by January 1, 2020. And according to Duncan Aviation president Aaron Hilkeman’s statement at the Corporate Jet Investor conference in Miami, 40% of the US business fleet will not meet this deadline. Avoid the last minute rush and chaos that is sure to ensue by contacting us at Boca Aircraft Maintenance, and schedule your plane for service and to become ADS-B compliant.
Hilkemen explained that in order to reach 100% compliance by 2020, the ADS-B installation rate—currently 1,758/month for U.S.-based airplanes and helicopters—would need to increase exponentially to an impossible rate of 3,390/month.
Additionally, only 5,225, or 37%, of the 14,001 US-based business jets are equipped with ADS-B Out. If equipage continues at the current rate, 3,476 jets—almost one-fourth of the US fleet—will be grounded due to non-compliance in January 2020.
And the outlook for business turboprops is even grimmer. Only 21%, or 2,513 of 12,188 now have ADS-B. This means that if progress continues at this rate, 7150 turbo props will fail to meet the deadline and be grounded as of January 2020. Make sure that your plane isn’t grounded by contacting Boca Aircraft Maintenance about our aviation services today, at 561-347-3333.
And even more discouraging, nearly 14%, or 6,255, of the 45,257 US-based aircrafts that are equipped with ADS-B Out, avionics are not properly transmitting a signal, according to data from Duncan Aviation. This can result from improper hardware installations or faulty configuration by avionics technicians.
“Looking to install ADS-B next year is too late,” Hilkeman warned. Especially since shops are juggling the need for ADS-B work with other avionics demands including an increasing request for datacom installations.
The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system (ADS-B) is the foundation of the FAA’s Next General Air Transportation System (NextGen).
It is a satellite-based system implemented to make US airspace more efficient by allowing air traffic controllers and aircraft to receive extremely accurate information regarding aircraft location and flight path. This, in turn, facilitates safer operations, reduced separation standards between aircraft, more direct flight routes and cost savings for operators.
There are two types of ADS-B equipment that can be installed on an airplane: ADS-B Out and ADS-B In. Both are important and valuable, but currently only ADS-B Out is mandated by the FAA’s Final Rule stating that all aircraft must be equipped with ADS-B Out in order to operate in designated airspace starting January 1, 2020.
Aircraft owners are encouraged that time is of the essence as shops will become increasingly overwhelmed as the deadline grows closer. And while the retrofits market has seen huge growth in 2017, time and rebate availability is running out.
According to Joseph Zulueta, Aeronautical Systems managing director the current rate of return on investment for ADS-B retrofits is about 50 percent, upon resale. “This will trend down to zero as we approach 2020. After January 1, 2010, pre-owned aircraft without ADS-B are unlikely to sell, and having it will bring no extra value otherwise.”
As more & more aircraft owners and aircraft operators come to the realization that scheduling this service for your plane ahead of time is not only ideal, it may become necessary, the available facilities able to perform the ADS-B service will become completely booked solid. The professional aviation mechanics at Boca Aircraft Maintenance are able to schedule your plane, perform the required updates flawlessly, and get you wheels up in a timely manner.
We currently have availability, but expect that to fill up quickly as the deadline of Jan. 1, 2020 continues to approach. Call us today to learn more at 561-347-3333 or by filling out a contact request from our dedicated ADS-B Services page.