The SACAA issued an AIC on the 8th October 2020 that finally promulgates ADS-B compliance in South Africa. This one replaces the original AIC issued in 2017.

Read the ADS-B AIC here.

After reading this I found it extremely difficult to understand what the requirement are for the different types of operation. One of the biggest questions that I am always asked is whether ADS-B in or only out is required.

By not having any Clarity in this AIC, we are forced to look further at the rest of the world and look at what they have promulgated. In short, no Authority worldwide has promulgated ADS-B in as a requirement, so we have to assume, this is not a requirement here. Although it's a really nice to have and my advice to anyone upgrading, spend the extra and have the in capability.

THE TIMELINE FOR ADS-B IS AS FOLLOWS:

• All new Transponder Installations are to be ADS-B compliant.
• All RVSM aircraft to be fully compliant by 15 June 2023.
• All aircraft operating in the AFI region to be compliant by June 2025.

SO WHEN THEY SAY YOU MUST COMPLY, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? I HAVE TRIED TO SIMPLIFY THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE:

• We will be operating on a Satellite based system. Don’t get too confused with the Mode S side of this as all ADS-B transponders already comply with this.
• Aircraft with a VNE equal to or exceeding 250kts must have Diversity transponders installed. Diversity means a transponder antenna on top and on the bottom of each aircraft.
• We will only be operating on the 1090ES ADS-B system due to the satellite link we will be using.
• The transponders will require a Certified WAAS GPS position source.
• At some point, MSSR (Monopulse Secondary Surveillance RADAR) will be phased out; but it’s highly unlikely that this will occur within the next 15 yrs. Please take note that Planning has begun to decommission some PSR’s at low traffic volume Towers.

Please note that from June 2025, no one will be allowed to enter any Class A or Class C Airspace unless they are ADS-B compliant.

So before you get caught up in this whole thing and jump to fit a transponder that does not meet the requirements, please give me a call and I will try give you all the information you need to make a confident purchase.

Bye for now.