ADS-B Rebate Program Kicks Off Next Week

The FAA’s hotly anticipated ADS-B rebate program launches on September 19, giving aircraft owners $500 cash back to help offset the cost to equip for the 2020 ADS-B mandate.

“NextGen has played and will continue to play an important role in ensuring that our airspace is safe and efficient for the American people, and we are focused on achieving its full potential,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This incentive program is an innovative solution that addresses stakeholder concerns about meeting the 2020 deadline, and will make a huge difference in helping the general aviation community equip.”

In June 6, 2016, Foxx and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta announced that the rebates would be available starting this fall, and that only installations performed after the program launched would be eligible for the rebate. Previously equipped aircraft will not be eligible. The FAA will issue 20,000 rebate checks on a first-come, first-served basis for one year or until all 20,000 rebates are claimed — whichever comes first.

The rebate is available only to owners of U.S.-registered, fixed-wing, single-engine piston aircraft that were first registered before January 1, 2016. The FAA will not provide rebates for software upgrades on already equipped aircraft, or for aircraft for which the FAA has paid or committed to upgrade. The FAA estimates that 160,000 aircraft need to be equipped by the deadline.

Aircraft owners will have 60 days after the scheduled installation date to validate their equipage by flying their aircraft, and will then be able to claim the rebate. The reservation system will require an N number, installation date and the planned ADS-B equipment being installed. The reservation system will be available at the ADS-B rebate website.

“We promised that we would help aircraft owners equip with ADS-B, and I am pleased to say that today we are honoring that commitment and we are delivering on our target date,” said Huerta. “We are encouraging aircraft owners to start equipping now. Do not wait until the last minute, because you may not be able to get an appointment with a certified installer.”