Officials at the Experimental Aircraft Association report they are in ongoing discussions with the FAA to ensure that experimental amateur-built owners are not forgotten as the FAA looks toward the Jan. 1, 2020 mandate for equipping aircraft with ADS-B avionics.
Historically, builders and owners of experimental aircraft have been able to install avionics that meet the performance standards of certified equipment, but are not specifically approved by the FAA, EAA officials note.
Even in IFR-equipped aircraft, avionics do not have to be approved devices and can be installed by the aircraft builder or by an A&P mechanic. EAA wants to preserve that historical precedent for ADS-B equipment installation as well.
“The latitude within the amateur-built regulations includes the ability to meet the required performance standards in the ADS-B mandate through means other than certified avionics and professional installers,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “EAA wants to maintain the culture of innovation and education that has been a hallmark of our community and the FAA appears willing to help find a path forward for us.”
While the 2020 ADS-B mandate applies to all aircraft that will operate within controlled airspace, there are unique provisions and opportunities within the amateur-built regulations that may allow owners of experimental aircraft to meet the requirements with greater flexibility and potentially lower cost, EAA officials said. That could mean, for instance, the ability for a builder to install certified ADS-B systems, or seek out non-certified ADS-B systems that meet the mandate’s performance standards, they explain.
“Our point to the FAA is that we support the agency’s desire for full compliance with the 2020 mandate, provided cost-effective options are available,” Elliott said. “The amateur-built regulations allow individuals to fully comply with the requirements in their own way and at a potentially lower price point. There is still work to do, but EAA is committed to preserving the rights and opportunities allowed within amateur-built regulations in all areas, including ADS-B installation.”
EAA officials say they will continue these discussions with FAA officials, noting that, as with many past innovations, solutions developed by EAA and homebuilders may lead the way to eventual solutions for owners of all GA aircraft.
This whole ADSB thing stinks. EAA looking out for their own interests, Avionics manufacturers salavating over the prospects of making another fortune selling equipment, and the FAA continuing to build their kingdom by hiding behind the word “safety”. Then to top it off the poor Piper Tomahawk pilot has to foot the bill if they want to get a 100 dollar hamburger under the Class B. What a joke. And besides that we don’t need no third class medical.
In local government here in New Jersey, there is a concept
called ‘State mandate – State pay’ which loosely translates to
‘if the State is making your town do something, the State must
provide sufficient funding to accomplish it.’.
I am as much of a free market capitalist as the next American,
but the ADS-B out dilemma presents a unique opportunity for
the government to partner with the aviation industry in the
interest of public safety.
Simply put, the FAA will determine the standards for how the
equipment will perform in operation. Going one step farther, the
Feds could hold a competition among willing manufacturers to
build suitable equipment with the understanding that that the one
manufacturer who provides the best equipment solution at the
most affordable price wins a contract to provide the equipment
to equip the entire GA fleet.
One size fits all. Built to one FAA standard. Upgradeable.
Portable. Whatever the FAA wants to build into the bid specs.
When the boxes are built, FAA can sell them AT COST to
those of us who wish to keep our aircraft in the air.
Too simple? To practical? Too fair? Only the government
can screw this up.