FAA Confirms ADS-B Flexibility for Experimental Aircraft

February 19, 2015 – EAA’s advocacy for experimental category aircraft owners and builders secured key assurances this week as FAA officials reiterated their support for flexibility in ADS-B equipment in those aircraft.

At an “Equip 2020” meeting involving the FAA, aviation groups, and industry officials this week in Washington, D.C., the agency restated their intent to ensure that the year 2020 mandate for ADS-B “out” installation would allow experimental category aircraft to install non-TSO equipment that meets TSO performance specifications. Such an allowance would support greater compliance with the mandate by reducing costs for such equipment and maintaining the freedom traditionally found within the experimental category.

“The FAA maintained the same position as during the EAA/FAA winter summit earlier this month: It wants to keep the pathway to compliance as simple as possible,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety, who attended the meeting along with Doug Macnair, EAA’s vice president of government relations. “It’s important that the innovation and flexibility available through the experimental category – which often leads to improvements for the entire GA fleet – is not hindered by a specific mandate such as an ADS-B TSO requirement.”

EAA has committed to helping the FAA with language that would help clarify and provide guidance for experimental category aircraft owners and builders for ADS-B equipment and installation. 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. 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.

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. That could specifically mean, for instance, the ability for a builder to individually install certified ADS-B systems, or seek out non-certified ADS-B systems that meet the mandate’s performance standards.