Avionics News February 2015 - 4

Overcoming installation challenges
key to meeting ADS-B deadline

s it just me, or does it seem like since we turned the
remember that aircraft operators will be required to make
calendar to 2015 a mere month ago, a sense of urgency a significant investment in their airplanes to meet the
seems to be growing in regards to the countdown to the
mandate and continue flying in the national airspace system.
ADS-B Out mandate of Jan. 1, 2020? Before the last drop
As our segment of the industry stands to profit from this
of New Year's champagne has been drunk, and resolutions
mandate, the brunt of the cost will be the responsibility of
have yet to be forgotten, a fire's been lit under the topic of
the private aircraft owners, fleet companies, flight schools
ADS-B Out.
and universities, corporations and the airlines. It's something
In January alone, the Aircraft Electronics
we don't take lightly. Manufacturers are working
Association hosted an industry forum on
hard to keep equipment costs down, all the
ADS-B Out installer challenges; the Federal
while incurring huge monetary investment in
Aviation Administration completed its third
the design, engineering and certification of the
Industry Equip 2020 working group session;
products. Repair stations will incur additional
and I've confirmed speaking engagements on
costs in having the proper tools, training and, in
the subject to three different industry groups
some cases, hiring additional workforce to help
before the first quarter of the year is complete.
meet the demand.
Paula Derks
The upcoming AEA International
Folks, we now have four years and 10 months
Convention & Trade Show will include sessions on ADS-B to equip more than 100,000 general aviation airplanes.
equipage, both regulatory and technical in nature. And
A significant part of the AEA mission is to facilitate
don't be surprised to see a few new ADS-B compliant
communications between the avionics OEMs, their dealers
products debut during the New Product Introductions
and the regulators. As part of that mission, the AEA played
session on opening day of the convention.
host to a two-day forum in January on Part 23 and Part 25
Our phones here at the AEA's headquarters office
ADS-B installation challenges. The forum attracted nearly 60
are ringing constantly with calls from both member
industry and FAA professionals in three specific realms of our
companies as well as pilots seeking guidance on meeting
industry: manufacturers, repair stations and regulators.
the equipage mandate.
Some significant outcomes from these forums included
All the while, we continue to get confirmation from the
the need for more education to both industry and the
FAA that the mandate will stick; there will be no extension.
aircraft owners on compliance. The FAA has established
For sure, the next five years will be an exciting time for our
an ADS-B Focus Team to foster consistent interpretation
membership. Avionics manufacturers will be busy ramping
and applications of ADS-B related regulations, policy and
up their assembly lines, and repair stations will amp up to
guidance. This AFT is comprised of subject-matter experts
meet the demand for installations as 2020 gets closer.
Continued on page 63
As this sense of urgency builds, it's important to

avionics news

february 2015
february 2015

Avionics News February 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News February 2015