ADS-B
ADS-B Costs
By Dick Smith
Apr 27, 2006, 14:24

Airservices are making a number of claims in relation to ADS-B for general aviation aircraft.  Originally it was understood that an ADS-B ‘out’ transponder would cost about $8,000 and still need to be connected to a separate GPS receiver.  The latest cost that is being estimated is about $12,000.

It should me made clear that there is actually no such unit available.  Microair have been working on a prototype, however they only have a mock-up.  They would need an order or considerable funding from the Government to be able to design and certify their unit.  Until it is actually certified, there is no 100% guarantee that such a unit can be manufactured.

In relation to ADS-B ‘in’, Airservices have demonstrated the CDTI-2000 unit from Europe.  Of course they haven’t mentioned a price.  The prices are staggering.  The unit would cost $16,147 plus freight (let’s say $500).  An estimate of the installation certification is about $3,000, and it then has to be connected to a GPS receiver and a Mode S receiver.  So you are talking about well over $20,000 just to get ADS-B 'in’.  That is, a unit that will display the 'paints' of other aircraft on a screen in your aircraft - and this gives no audio call outs at all.  Add this to the ADS-B ‘out’ and you are talking about a figure of approximately $30,000 for a GA aircraft.