For aircraft not equipped with ADS-B Out, flying in certain U.S. airspace will change beginning at 0001 local on Thursday, January 2—which is when the FAA’s long-discussed ADS-B Out mandate takes effect.
In the continental United States, the equipment will be required to operate in the ADS-B rule airspace defined by FAR 91.225, which encompasses:
Except for the airspace over the Gulf this is the same airspace where a transponder is required today.
If you’re not equipped with ADS-B Out, you’re not necessarily shut out of the airspace—but you’ll have some extra work to do.
An operational transponder is required, he added, and aircraft without engine-driven electrical systems that don’t have transponders also are exempt from some of the ADS-B required airspace, but not all.
ADAPT went live on December 31. Pilots can familiarize themselves with it through a video the FAA has posted online. In addition, AOPA has produced a comprehensive ADAPT Fact Sheet that includes step-by-step instructions for completing the process.