FAA Issues ADS-B Out Airspace Policy Statement

April 4, 2019 - The FAA issued a policy statement on Monday that details a one time at a time policy for operators of non-ADS-B Out equipped aircraft to operate in ADS-B airspace after January 1, 2020.

The policy is not intended for daily operations through ADS-B airspace, but instead as a way for those who have not equipped to operate in ADS-B airspace, which includes Class A, B, and C airspace, airspace above 10,000 feet MSL, and areas within 30 nautical miles of a Class B primary airport.

The areas requiring ADS-B are largely similar to those that currently require a Mode C transponder, and it is EAA's position that requesting access as laid out in the policy statement should work largely the same way that it currently does for those without a transponder: with a phone call to ATC in the airspace in question at least one hour before the proposed flight.

Additionally, there is a website proposed that could be used to request access as well, a welcome addition to the already proven methods of requesting access to airspace.

The full policy statement is available online. EAA will continue to monitor ADS-B policy as 2020 draws ever closer.