ADS-B OUT Exemptions for 2020 Deadline

The FAA mandate to install Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Out equipment for aircraft flying in U.S. airspace by January 1, 2020 (above 10,000 feet or in Class B or C airspace) is in the not-so-distant future. Aircraft operating in some countries' airspace must already be compliant. Now, there's an exemption for part of the ADS-B Out requirements that airlines and general aviation aircraft owners can apply for through the FAA. For more information, see the complete AIN article and FAA website.

The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is a broad term for many FAA projects to upgrade the National Airspace System (NAS). ADS-B is fundamental to the foundation of NextGen and will directly affect aircraft operation in a substantial portion of the nation's airspace effective January 1, 2020.

ADS-B provides foundational technology for improvements related to the NextGen and Single European Sky Air Traffic Management (ATM) Research Programme (or SESAR). As NextGen refers to the effort of the U.S. FAA to transform the ATC system to support a larger volume of airplanes more efficiently, SESAR is a similar effort in Europe.

Why NextGen? Our current ATC system is radar-based. While radar technology was good when it arrived on the scene in the 1950s, it is severely outdated by today's standards. We need something better and more capable of handling an increase in volume of air traffic.