CASA this week launched a standards development project to explore voluntary fitment of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) to aircraft operating under VFR.
In February next year, ADS-B will become compulsory for all aircraft operating under IFR, but VFR aircraft are not included in the mandate.
CASA now wants to explore what changes would need to be made to standards and regulation in order to encourage VFR aircraft owners to fit ADS-B of their own accord.
"ADS-B is the cornerstone for Australia's transition to satellite technology based surveillance," the CASA project brief states. "The technology has already enabled a vast increase in the air traffic surveillance coverage over Australian territory – resulting in significant increases in operating and safety efficiencies.
"CASA has promulgated various requirements and standards concerning the carriage and use of ADS-B equipment in aircraft operated in accordance with the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). While current requirements apply only in certain parts of Australian controlled airspace, from 2 February 2017 all IFR operated aircraft in all Australian airspace must carry and use suitable ADS-B equipment.
"No ADS-B fitment mandate applies to aircraft in the VFR category. While some VFR aircraft operators have chosen to equip their aircraft with IFR-compliant ADS-B equipment, the cost of such equipment is a disincentive for more widespread voluntary fitment."
According to CASA, VFR aircraft owners who fit ADS-B will benefit in several ways, including:
- improved traffic information
- flight watch and SAR alerting
- improved collision avoidance
- improved access to CTA
The sticking point is that CASA's current suite of regulations and standards don't recognise reduced-cost ADS-B systems, most of which don't comply with the design requirements of a Technical Service Order (TSO).
Part of the project will cover a review of the ADS-B for VFR paper proposed by the Australian Strategic Air Traffic Management Group (ASTRA) in May this year. ASTRA's proposal stated that CASA should accept FAA Technical Service Order (TSO) C199 as acceptable for VFR, or that CASA allows non-TSO approve avionics in VFR provided the manufacturer has a statement of compliance with the TSO.
Most importantly, ASTRA has proposed that CASA changes the requirements for installing some avionics to lower the cost of design, installation and maintenance, which is sees as vital if ADS-B Out is to become widespread in VFR aircraft.
Full details of the new project are on the CASA website.