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ADS-B Flight Tests: Ground Check It First

The final stages of an avionics installation can be the most critical because thats when the configuration and final testing occur. Unfortunately, its when a shop can be rushed to the point where you-the aircraft owner-are left holding the bag to test newly installed gear, which includes critical ADS-B equipment. The good news: Shops that do the most ADS-B retrofits will own the specialized test gear to make sure the system is programmed and properly tested before you fly the aircraft away. The better shops will fly it with you for a final check. But for shops that are less equipped, you'll have to fly it off yourself and eyeball the data on the Public ADS-B Performance Report, or PAPR. Link to this automated tool at https://tinyurl.com/y9hrtsyw. It can tell a shop a lot about the systems performance should they have to troubleshoot it. When the government was paying out rebate checks for ADS-B upgrades, it required specific flight testing and a validation report for conformity. Thats no longer the case, but you might follow similar guidance when validating a new install. The FAAs advisory circular 20-165B provides guidance for ADS-B Out system installations and airworthiness approvals. In it you'll find the recommended flight profiles and maneuvers to perform on the flight test. Worth mentioning is that a typical FAR 91.413 transponder test wont check a 1090ES transponders ADS-B data output.

Larry Anglisano
Verified

The final stages of an avionics installation can be the most critical because that’s when the configuration and final testing occur. Unfortunately, it’s when a shop can be rushed to the point where you—the aircraft owner—are left holding the bag to test newly installed gear, which includes critical ADS-B equipment.

The good news: Shops that do the most ADS-B retrofits will own the specialized test gear to make sure the system is programmed and properly tested before you fly the aircraft away. The better shops will fly it with you for a final check. But for shops that are less equipped, you’ll have to fly it off yourself and eyeball the data on the Public ADS-B Performance Report, or PAPR. Link to this automated tool athttps://tinyurl.com/y9hrtsyw.It can tell a shop a lot about the system’s performance should they have to troubleshoot it.When the government was paying out rebate checks for ADS-B upgrades, it required specific flight testing and a validation report for conformity. That’s no longer the case, but you might follow similar guidance when validating a new install. The FAA’s advisory circular 20-165B provides guidance for ADS-B Out system installations and airworthiness approvals. In it you’ll find the recommended flight profiles and maneuvers to perform on the flight test. Worth mentioning is that a typical FAR 91.413 transponder test won’t check a 1090ES transponder’s ADS-B data output.

Larry Anglisano

Editor in Chief Larry Anglisano has been a staple at Aviation Consumer since 1995. An active land, sea and glider pilot, Larry has over 30 years’ experience as an avionics repairman and flight test pilot. He’s the editorial director overseeing sister publications Aviation Safety magazine, IFR magazine and is a regular contributor to KITPLANES magazine with his Avionics Bootcamp column.