AOPA, equipment manufacturers, and aviation associations will work together to educate aircraft owners about their options when it comes to meeting the FAA’s 2020 mandate for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), the groups agreed during a meeting hosted by AOPA President Mark Baker at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, Florida.
Baker highlighted the progress made since AOPA led an industry effort to express concerns over the high cost of equipage, noting recent announcements of ADS-B Out solutions at half the cost of previous offerings. He thanked meeting participants for their support of AOPA’s drive for lower-cost ADS-B Out solutions that meet the needs of a wide range of GA owners and operators.
The April 22 meeting included representatives of 18 different organizations, among them the FAA, major avionics manufacturers, aircraft owner groups, and GA associations including the Aircraft Electronics Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, and General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
During the meeting, Baker reiterated AOPA’s position that ADS-B is the way forward, noting that the association supports universal participation.
“We want the GA fleet to equip, and we want it to make sense for them to do so,” Baker said following the meeting. “That means aircraft owners need options that make sense for what and how they fly, and they need to fully understand what those options are and what’s really involved in the process, from purchase through installation.”
AOPA promised to help educate aircraft owners about their options by installing a variety of equipment in AOPA-owned aircraft and sharing information about the real costs, complexities, time, and challenges involved with each installation. During the meeting, the group also discussed ways to make ADS-B installations more affordable by using A&P mechanics coupled with an inspection authorization (IA) signoff to install needed equipment during annual inspections. The group also agreed to reconvene this summer during EAA AirVenture to discuss progress, re-evaluate consumer needs, and share experiences.
“This was a really productive meeting among those who have the tools to make a difference for pilots and aircraft owners,” Baker said following the event. “We will continue to work together and find ways to make sure the GA community is better informed about equipment choices so they can enjoy the benefits and safety promised by ADS-B.”
