The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) is reporting that Canada is delaying implementation of mandatory ADS-B because too many aircraft operators have said they can’t meet the phased-in equipage deadlines proposed by the air traffic services provider Nav Canada. Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) also needs time to get regulatory matters ironed out. Nav Canada wanted to make ADS-B Out, with transmitters capable of sending a signal up to the Aireon satellite transponders, mandatory in Class A airspace (above 18,000 feet) as early as Feb. 25, 2021, as well as airspace above 60,000 feet. The second phase, which would capture Class B airspace (between 12,500 and 18,000 feet) was to come into effect Jan. 27, 2022. No dates have been released for the new deadlines.
The third phase, which would cover so far unspecified areas of airspace below 12,500 feet, would be implemented at least a year after the second phase and only after consultation with stakeholders in the affected segments. To communicate with the Aireon system, aircraft will require “antenna diversity,” meaning upward- and downward-facing antennas, which is at odds with the 2020 U.S. mandate requiring downward antennas only.
Here we go…
We don’t know what we want, but we demand that you do it.
The sad part is not only do they not know specifically what inducement, if they require diversity as posed to the U.S. Many U.S. aircraft can’t go there without major expense. More coordination needs to be done in advance.