If ADS-B technology costs $18,000 today, that will be $1800 or even $180 in
2020.

I work in the high tech computer industry. 5 terabytes of disk storage cost
nearly $1,000,000 in the year 2000. Today, in summer 2007, we just bought 7
terabytes for $11,000. This is not a typo. The technology is similar.

Lee McGee (yet another Lee)


"Ron Lee" wrote in message
...
If you thought that the user fee issue was important, this proposal is
far more onerous to the GA community.

You can access the 100 page NPRM from this AOPA website:

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news..._196268-1.html

This NPRM to mandate ADS-B Out avionics on aircraft by 2020 as best I
can determine from available information will be costly (as high as
~$18,000 per aircraft) just to transmit position info.

This does NOT get you free weather, free traffic info or other data
transmitted by the ADS system.

It will require ADS-B Out equipage to fly above 10,000 feet MSL, into
Class C airspace, by all aircraft at airports within current Class B
Mode C rings (30 NM), etc.

My analysis shows ZERO to INSIGNIFICANT benefit to most GA users but
potentially onerously high costs. My current draft response to this
NPRM is at the link below. It is a Word document and is still very
draft. I will be updating it as I more fully develop it.

http://tinyurl.com/2wem8j

This NPRM needs massive and overwhelming GA pilot community input to
fight it. Details are in the NPRM and we must also ensure that AOPA,
EAA , etc are on board.

Previous AOPA statements that 75% of GA pilots are in favor of ADS-B
if they get free weather fail to prperly cover the costs to the pilot
for avionics. Once you read the NPRM and my review, an objectively
worded poll would probably show less than 5% of GA pilots willing to
equip with all the ADS-B avionics needed to get free weather.

More to follow soon.

Ron Lee