As with most things the government requires us to spend money on, many pilots that I talk with aren’t thrilled with the idea of force-fed ADS-B upgrades. Buying a non-compliant, $800 portable ADS-B receiver to get free weather is one thing. Investing thousands on a major installation is another. As we explain in the ADS-B equipment article on page 4, a full-up ADS-B-compliant upgrade, including a WAAS GPS navigator, could easily top 10 grand. If you’re lucky, you might get by with a $2000 investment, give or take, for a basic ADS-B output transponder. That’s a best-case scenario.
Many owners with lower-end aircraft and tight budgets wonder where they’ll come up with ADS-B upgrade money. Some contemplate selling the aircraft before the mandate hits. Can’t fault these folks for being realistic. If you can’t pay, you can’t play, at least in most controlled airspace come January 1, 2020.