ADS-B rebate reservation system to go live
System to open Sept. 19
The FAA has announced that its Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) rebate reservation system will be available sometime during the afternoon on Sept. 19, allowing aircraft owners to apply online for a $500 rebate toward the cost of installing ADS-B Out equipment in their aircraft.
Owners who wish to participate in the rebate program will be required to complete an online form available through a link on the FAA’s rebate page. The form will require information about their aircraft as well as the make and model of the ADS-B equipment they plan to install and the scheduled installation date. The installation date is important because owners will have just 60 days from then to fly with the equipment, validate that it is working properly, and claim the rebate.
“Aircraft owners who want to participate in the program should make sure their aircraft registration information is correct now to avoid delays,” said Rune Duke, AOPA director of airspace and air traffic. “This is also a good time to decide which ADS-B product works for you. And while you can go ahead and purchase eligible equipment and schedule an installation date now, it’s important to note that you cannot actually install the new equipment until after the rebate becomes available if you want to remain eligible for the program.”
Aircraft owners can learn more about what rebate-eligible equipment is available for their aircraft with the help of the FAA’s ADS-B equipment search page.
A total of 20,000 rebates will be available through the program, which will run for approximately one year or until all the rebates have been claimed. The program also allows for just one rebate per aircraft owner.
AOPA and other industry groups, including the Aircraft Electronics Association and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, strongly encouraged the FAA to develop the rebate program to help general aviation pilots offset the cost of equipping ahead of the FAA’s Jan. 1, 2020, deadline. After that date, aircraft that have not equipped for ADS-B will not be allowed to fly in most airspace where a Mode C transponder is required today.
The FAA announced the rebate program in June at a news conference that included AOPA President Mark Baker.
“This program is designed to help aircraft owners who might be reluctant to equip because of cost get ready for the 2020 deadline,” said Baker. “We don’t want to see aircraft grounded because of the cost of participation in ADS-B, so we’re pleased the FAA is moving forward with implementation so that more owners can take full advantage of the safety benefits offered by ADS-B.”
Once the rebate reservation system is active and pilots have their new equipment installed, they will be required to conduct a validation flight to demonstrate that the ADS-B equipment is functioning properly. Guidance on how to conduct that flight is available in the rebate rules. Having completed the flight, owners also will be required to obtain a performance report, which is available through the FAA’s Public Performance Report Request page. Additional information about how to use the reporting system is available through AOPA.
A number of ADS-B equipment manufacturers have offered bridge rebate programs for owners wishing to equip before the FAA’s rebate becomes available, but the majority of those have either already expired or will expire when the rebate reservation system goes live. The exceptions are Avidyne and Bendix/King, both of which offer programs that will remain in effect until Sept. 30.
Aircraft owners can learn more about the ADS-B rebate program through the FAA’s frequently asked questions page and stay up to date on the latest program news by signing up for alerts using the “subscribe” link in the upper right corner of the FAA’s ADS-B rebate page.
