Hello Walter,
Could please kindly elaborate on this post from AOPA web site which one of the members quoted. I along with many other's are considering purchase of either Sky Radar , or the other unit you noted in one of your posts. If this posting from AOPA is correct, wouldn't that make ADSB not as useful for most of us GA pilots as we think.? I am hoping at least the weather portion will not be affected. Since this is the best benefit ADSB can provide to GA pilots, by eliminating cost of XM weather subscription.
Please have your staff investigate this with FAA and address this question which I am sure by now many other memebers have.
Thanks & Best Regards
Nick
FunFlying wrote:
After delving deeper into this issue, I am pulling out of this offer also at this time.
This off the www.aopa.org website :
AOPA's POSITION
For nearly 20 years AOPA has supported the transition from ground-based infrastructure to satellite based systems. AOPA generally supports ADS-B in concept, if the members can easily identify tangible benefits to their operation.
However at this time, is difficult to identify adequate benefits in the ADS-B implementation strategy. AOPA expects members to delay equipage until they are forced to comply with the mandate. However, we remain optimistic that over the next decade, safety concerns will be mitigated, avionics prices will drop, and general aviation benefits will emerge. As identified in comments to the FAA, there are a number of concerns with FAA’s proposed implementation strategy to include:
Collision risk. The FAA is implementing ADS-B on two independent, non-compatible frequencies. Unless general aviation pilots equip aircraft in such a way that they receive the ADS-B transmissions on both frequencies, they will likely see only one-half of the ADS-B equipped fleet. The costs and availability of dual-frequency ADS-B receiver is not known. The FAA could address this concern in two ways, 1) either provide a re-broadcast service at all general aviation airports or 2) require all aircraft to transmit on the same frequency.
Mandate not necessary. AOPA recommended that the FAA exclude low-altitude operators from the mandate because the financial benefits all stem from operations in high altitude airspace, over the Gulf of Mexico, or when operating to/from the largest airline airports. An independent FAA sanctioned rulemaking committee confirmed the AOPA recommendation would achieve most of the benefits without the widespread mandate on general aviation. More information will become available when the FAA publishes the regulations mandating ADS-B.
Affordability. AOPA has recommended several technical changes that would reduce the price of ADS-B systems. AOPA has also called on the FAA to permit pilots to use hand-held ADS-B receivers that can obtain free traffic, weather and airspace status content from the ADS-B infrastructure.
Transponder removal. AOPA recommended that because the FAA plans to transition from radar and transponders to ADS-B, that general aviation aircraft should be allowed to remove their transponders. However, the FAA has rejected that proposal, primarily because they have not adapted Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to support ADS-B.
ADS-B infrastructure. The FAA is installing ADS-B infrastructure to provide the same coverage as radar. Except for overwater, deep in the Gulf of Mexico, no new airspace or airports are expected to receive surveillance as a result of the ADS-B infrastructure installation. Therefore, except when operating near major metropolitan areas, general aviation will largely operate underneath or outside ADS-B coverage. AOPA has called on the FAA to expand ADS-B coverage to include general aviation airports. A broad coalition of the industry has embraced AOPA’s recommendation, but the FAA has yet to respond.