Washington, DC—The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) welcomed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s announcement that the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) rebate reservation system is slated to be operational on September 19. The equipage incentive rebate, which the FAA announced in June, will allow a general aviation aircraft owner who installs ADS-B Out avionics on a U.S.-registered, fixed-wing, single-engine piston aircraft to receive a $500 rebate toward the cost of equipage. The rebate will be available to 20,000 airplanes on a first-come, first-served basis. The ADS-B equipage mandate goes into effect on January 1, 2020.

“By equipping now, operators will be able to enjoy ADS-B benefits such as enhanced surveillance, greater situational awareness, and free in-cockpit traffic and weather immediately, as well as avoid the long installation lines expected as the mandate nears,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “We hope operators who have not yet equipped will now act to do so as soon as possible.”