Five Days Until ADS-B Mandate Deadline; Do You Have A Flight Plan?

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LINCOLN, NEB — Duncan Aviation knows that most of its customers are aware that the FAA’s January 1, 2020, deadline for upgrading their aircraft to Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is next week. In the last couple of weeks, managers at the Duncan Aviation Satellite Avionics Shops have been asked a number of questions.

One question comes from owner/operators whose aircraft are not ADS-B-compliant. They are wondering if they’re going to be able to fly once the mandate goes into effect next week.

Manager of Regulation Compliance Mike Mertens says the FAA released a policy statement in April of this year clarifying how Air Traffic Control (ATC) will handle non-compliant aircraft.

He says the agency made clear that it will not issue in-flight authorizations to non-compliant aircraft. Permission must be requested and obtained before takeoff.

“At least 60 minutes before a flight, preferably considerably earlier, pilots flying aircraft that are not equipped with ADS-B Out must file their flight plan with the FAA and wait for permission from ATC in the airspace through which they intend to fly,” says Mertens. “If ATC is busy, airspace is congested or there’s inclement weather, permission to fly may be denied.”

Mertens stressed that these exceptions will not be granted more than one or two times. Aircraft that are not compliant with the FAA’s ADS-B-Out mandate will likely face inconvenient restrictions and downtime in the coming weeks.

After the first of the New Year, some of the Duncan Aviation Satellite Avionics Shops have space available for upgrading aircraft to ADS-B Out. Duncan Aviation holds or has access to Supplemental Type Certificates for dozens of aircraft, and the techs have a great deal of experience with all makes and models. Throughout 2019, Duncan Aviation techs at Satellite Avionics Shops have upgraded more than 400 aircraft for ADS-B, and the three main facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska, Battle Creek, Michigan, and Provo, Utah, have upgraded an additional 125 aircraft.

“We’ve also received questions about how soon we can update aircraft from owner/operators who had intended to sell their aircraft rather than upgrade, but they’ve found there’s no market for aircraft that are not ADS-B-compliant,” says Manager of Satellite Operations Matt Nelson. “We’re encouraging owner/operators in this position to call the Duncan Aviation Satellite Avionics Shop nearest them to schedule time in January for the upgrade.”

Nelson knows the flight restrictions on non-compliant aircraft may pose some problems, but the FAA will likely grant permission for aircraft to fly to Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) centers like Duncan Aviation in order to obtain the upgrade to ADS-B.

If you haven’t yet upgraded to ADS-B, you’ll need to put down your aircraft for 10 days to two weeks. Although space in any of the Duncan Aviation Satellite Avionics Shops is extremely limited at this point, please contact:

• Regional Avionics Sales Manager John Spellmeyer(+1 316.214.8867 or email Spellmeyer@DuncanAviation.com) in the Western United States

• Regional Avionics Sales Manager Michael Kussatz(+1 531.207.3951 or email Kussatz@DuncanAviation.com) in the Eastern United States

About Duncan Aviation

Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of business aircraft operators, government agencies, and other aircraft service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit avionics systems, full paint and interior services, engineering and certification services, fabrication and manufacturing services, and preowned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has international aircraft components solutions experts available 24/7/365 at +1 402.475.4125 who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory repairs and overhauls. Complete service facilities are located in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah. We also have dozens of other facilities strategically located throughout the United States to provide customers with scheduled regional support and the quickest response possible to avionics, engine and airframe Aircraft On Ground (AOG) situations.

For more information about any of Duncan Aviation’s services, call +1 402.475.2611 or visit https://www.DuncanAviation.aero/services