Avionics News August 2016 - 22

FAA REBATE PROGRAM
Continued from page 21

Shop capacity is categorically not a problem, Derks
noted. The AEA president observed that barely one-third of
existing shop capacity is taken up in ADS-B installs - and
the longer owners hold out, the longer lead times will grow,
especially in the final couple of years.
Derks said capacity exists to handle 25,000 or so installations a year - right now; less than half that number
are expected to upgrade at current rates. But even if the
numbers increased to that level, insufficient time remains to
upgrade the entire fleet.
Both Baker and Bunce encouraged aircraft owners to
take advantage of the rebate program, noting that with
ADS-B In growing in popularity, those with Out can be
seen by those with In - enhancing traffic awareness across
the country.
Those who early equip with ADS-B Out face no concerns about tight scheduling, a lack of access or a shortage of conforming avionics - problems that officials and
industry executives expect to begin in late 2017 to early
2018.
Late 2017 is just more than a year out. So shops should
be aware and ready to take advantage of this one-year program. With the FAA and its message surrogates keeping the
spotlight on ADS-B Out and the rebate program, it's likely
that the $10 million in rebates will be claimed significantly
sooner than 12 months.
The FAA expects to open the program's window in late
September and close it 12 months later - or upon receipt of
the 20,000th rebate application, whichever comes first.
And both supporters and a few critics expect the line
to grow lengthy - quickly. In fact, in conversations with
several avionics shop owners and managers, their phones
started to ring with prospective customers within hours of
the program's announcement.
"We've already scheduled a few customers, and we're
just waiting for the window to open," said one avionics
shop owner, who asked to remain anonymous.
Here's the lay of the land
Questions, questions, questions. Why is it not already
running? Why no retroactive impact? How does this all work
- and who does what?
We have some answers, from the FAA and from the Aircraft Electronics Association, the organization charged with
providing fulfillment service for operators who apply for the
rebate. And how does that work, exactly?
Here are some answers.
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august

2016

How did this program come about?
The FAA consulted with the AEA, and other industry
stakeholders such as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association,
during the program's conceptual phase for several weeks
immediately prior to the announcement. The agency worked
diligently to develop the program with the cooperation of the
Department of Transportation and other government agencies to ensure legal compliance. The program exists to spur
faster compliance with the 2020 mandate for ADS-B Out,
and the funds are already in the FAA's budget.
What aircraft and equipment are eligible?
The FAA targeted the majority of the fleet - existing
fixed-wing, single-engine piston aircraft. New aircraft - that
is aircraft first registered after Jan. 1, 2016 - are ineligible.
Equipment eligible must be approved under FAA technical standard orders and meet the requirements of the rule (14
CFR paragraphs 91.225 and 91.227). No rebates for software
updates on existing ADS-B Out installations, and rebates
are unavailable to aircraft already equipped or for which the
FAA already has paid or committed to upgrade.
What's the process owners/operators
must follow?
An owner of an eligible aircraft should schedule the
installation of qualifying equipment and then reserve
a rebate using the FAA's ADS-B Rebate website, one
reservation for each eligible aircraft. Then have the
installation performed and signed off.
Within 60 days of completion of the equipment
installation, the aircraft must be flown in rule airspace (as
defined in 14 CFR 91.225) for a minimum of 30 minutes
- with at least 10 aggregate minutes of maneuvering. The
FAA's Advisory Circular AC 20-165B outlines the flightmaneuver recommendations for the confirmation flight. ATC
will see and track the aircraft and record its aircraft-specific
code.
After completing the confirmation flight, the aircraft
owner must then validate the performance of the eligible
aircraft's ADS-B installation by requesting a Public
Compliance Report - also available on the FAA's ADS-B
Rebate website. A validated installation will provide the
owner with an incentive code.
The last step also must occur within 60 days of the
installation date: Take the Rebate Reservation Code and
Incentive Code to the FAA's ADS-B Rebate website to claim
the rebate.
Once processed, the information goes to the AEA, which
will issue the funds on behalf of the FAA.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News August 2016