ADS-B requires a significant investment for airlines and while the industry agrees that it will yield future benefits, some aircraft are too technically difficult or expensive to retrofit and coupled with MRO constraints.
Following a lobbying campaign by European Regions Airline Association (ERA) as well as complementary work with other airspace user stakeholders to seek a prioritised and stepped ADS-B implementation based on ANSP, airspace user and airport needs, challenges and capabilities, the European Commission has disclosed that reasonable, justified exemptions may be considered.
Airspace users will need to be ADS-B compliant by 7 June 2020. ADS-B requires a significant investment for airlines and while the industry agrees that it will yield future benefits, some aircraft are too technically difficult or expensive to retrofit and coupled with MRO constraints, increase the unlikelihood of timely compliance. ERA believes there should not be a disproportionate or unnecessary burden on airlines that would in turn affect passengers, business and local economies.
ERA welcomes the Commission’s decision to consider potential exemptions and a reasonable level of flexibility providing stakeholders are able to demonstrate a willingness to comply. ERA is also encouraged by the Commission’s proposal to incentivise ADS-B retrofit through a yet to be determined financial mechanism. The European Commission will be creating a short consultation campaign with the SESAR Deployment Manager, EASA and all relevant stakeholders, which will be completed by end of Q4 this year.
ERA Director General Montserrat Barriga commented: “I’m very pleased that the European Commission has successfully collaborated with the aviation industry regarding ADS-B implementation and has taken our concerns into account. We look forward to continue working on behalf of ERA members on the next steps regarding the ADS-B implementation.”
Angelos is the news editor for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). His role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy.
He currently studies Communication, Media & Culture in Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens.
