The business aviation industry has been talking about the upcoming mandate for ADS-B Out avionics equipment for years.

Many operators have been reluctant to complete the requirement early. Yet the leaders in the FAA, GAMA, NATA and NBAA say operators need to be complying NOW.

The reality is there are at least 10,000 business class aircraft in the United States that still need to equip their aircraft for ADS-B Out. They have until December 31, 2019, to do this or they won’t be flying inside Class A, B or C airspace. In fact, they run the risk of being AOG and not being able to fulfill their mission for their companies and flight departments. Aircraft owners who wait to equip will most likely face scheduling pressure and higher installation costs. Duncan Aviation, the world’s largest privately owned MRO organisation, offers timely advice - and explodes some myths about ADS-B!

Myth #1: There is plenty of time

January 1, 2020 seems like a long way off, but if you remember previous FAA mandates, the industry experienced huge backlogs because there simply was not enough hangar space. Remember the issues with RVSM? There are even more aircraft that still need ADS-B.

Business aircraft operators in the United States have less than 32 months remaining to equip the entire fleet with ADS-B Out avionics equipment. That means 320 aircraft need to be upgraded EVERY MONTH from now until the mandate deadline. If you wait too long, the installation prices will increase, based on simple supply and demand, and you run the risk of not being able to complete the work at a qualified shop. By scheduling now, you will see better pricing and will be able to schedule the upgrade to fit your flight requirements and calendar.

Myth #2: The deadline will be extended

We feel confident saying the deadline is firm. In mid-April 2017, at Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Florida, the FAA’s Acting Deputy Administrator, Victoria Wassmer, reiterated that the mandate deadline for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast is firm. "I’m going to say this as plainly as I can: The ADS-B equipage deadline is not changing," says Wassmer. "If you plan to fly your plane in most controlled airspace after December 31, 2019, you’re going to need to install ADS-B."

The FAA says there will not be an extension. The agency has outlined its NextGen initiative, and it includes ADS-B technology. Customers in Asia Pacific, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore all thought the same thing when the deadline for their mandate approached in December 12, 2013. It was not extended. The FAA has given our industry 10 years to comply. January 1, 2020, is the deadline. The time to schedule your installation work is NOW.

Myth #3: The prices will drop

This is an interesting thought, and we have heard many customers state this. If you look at our industry and the history of mandates, though, you'd have a hard time finding a time when prices fell for equipment that is both required and has limited availability. It is our expert opinion after studying the issue thoroughly that as the mandate approaches, prices will increase. We hate to see our customers pay more because they procrastinated.

Myth #4: We’re going to sell our aircraft anyway

As an industry broker told us, "Without ADS-B, you may as well use your aircraft as an expensive paperweight. No one is going to buy it." Duncan Aviation's Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions team says whether the aircraft is equipped with ADS-B Out is already affecting its resale value. In this buyer's market, if you don't pay to upgrade to ADS-B Out now, the price you'll be able to ask for your aircraft will be significantly less than if you had ADS-B Out.

Further reading from Duncan Aviation - What is ADS-B Out?

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