Boost to New Southern Sky Programme - ADS-B grant announced for GA
GA Fliers may be eligible for financial support to help them equip with ADS-B as part of a new $12.5 million ADS-B Transponder Grant announced by the Government today.
Owners of New Zealand-registered general aviation aircraft who install appropriate ADS-B OUT equipment will be eligible for a grant of up to $2500 plus GST to help with the costs of installation. The grant will apply retrospectively, with compliant ADS-B installations since 14 June 2014, when the New Southern Sky Programme was launched,also eligible.
Deputy Director, Air Transport and Airworthiness, and sponsor of the New Southern Sky Programme, Mark Hughes said the grant money will help ensure GA aircraft are able to operate in controlled airspace when the proposed ADS-B mandate takes effect in December 2021.
“Under the proposed mandate, aircraft without ADS-B equipment won’t be able to fly in controlled airspace from that date, so it’s vitally important that owners equip early so they can continue flying,” Mr Hughes said.
“ADS-B brings significant safety benefits to New Zealand’s aviation system, so it’s great that this funding will be available to help smaller operators to get over the line with their installations ahead of the proposed ADS-B mandate.
“This grant programme is one of the most generous worldwide, and will help with the costs of installing ADS-B equipment for approximately 4,000 general aviation aircraft on a first-come, first served basis.”
To support the uptake of ADS-B IN, up to $500 plus GST will also be made available for those who install suitable equipment to give their aircraft ADS-B IN capability.
“Pilots will only unleash the full benefits of ADS-B in the cockpit if they are able to get additional traffic awareness through ADS-B IN alongside their usual visual scanning, so it’s important to consider adding ADS-B IN to your installation,” Mr Hughes said.
***
The ADS-B Transponder Grant scheme will be administered by the Civil Aviation Authority. Eligibility criteria and details about the application process are being developed and will be published on the Authority’s website and sent out to aircraft owners when they are finalised.
In the meantime, if you’re an aircraft owner, make sure you contact your avionics provider promptly to talk about what ADS-B equipment would be right for your aircraft.
Please contact us at adsb@caa.govt.nz if you have any questions about the scheme – although we won’t be able to address issues of eligibility until the eligibility criteria are released.