5 Reasons to Schedule Your Mandate Upgrades as Soon as Possible

There are many recent and upcoming aviation mandates that require compliance. These mandates are designed to make the skies safer and flights more efficient, so it’s important to begin your upgrades as soon as possible.

There are many recent and upcoming aviation mandates that require compliance. These mandates are designed to make the skies safer and flights more efficient, so it’s important to begin your upgrades as soon as possible. Here are five reasons to start on the path to compliance today:

Ensure that you don’t get grounded. The biggest risk in putting off mandate compliance is the risk of getting grounded. Waiting too long to start retrofitting your aircraft can put you in danger of missing the deadline altogether due to a backlog of orders and over scheduled service centers. Missing the compliance deadline for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out), for instance, will keep your planes on the ground―which means lost revenue, not to mention the added expense of hangar storage fees and upkeep. Studies show that an aircraft on ground (AOG) can cost up to $20,000 per day for small airlines and up to $150,000 for large commercial airlines.

Avoid scheduling gridlock and higher costs. Many service centers are fully booked. As each mandate deadline draws nearer, companies are vying for those few remaining upgrade slots. By upgrading now, you can avoid the scheduling gridlock and higher installation costs that will be a reality later. In addition, your wait for completion will be shorter, and that means less downtime for your aircraft.

Get the right equipment on time. When you upgrade well before a deadline, you don’t have to worry about the availability of products. Companies that put off upgrades are forced to wait when those products aren’t available. In the case of ADS-B Out, for instance, experts estimate that up to 25% of eligible aircraft will fail to get their upgrades by the Jan. 1, 2020, deadline, forcing them out of U.S. airspace. The stress of delaying isn’t worth it.

Leave time for thorough planning, evaluation and approval. Not every upgrade is created equal. It’s critically important to carefully plan each upgrade with the right experts. Each project has its own lead time, so you should schedule the necessary amount of time—a rushed upgrade could cause more downtime and costs in the future.

Take advantage of the competitive and performance benefits of compliance today. For airlines, upgrading your aircraft well before mandate deadlines can give you a jump on competitors that decide to wait, allowing you to offer safer, more efficient flights before the others. Owners and operators of business jets and other small aircraft can also enjoy the benefits of compliance sooner by acting fast. Why postpone making those changes, when complying will only improve your operations?

Aviation mandate compliance is a necessity and should be your top priority for 2019. They are mandatory requirements because they will increase safety and efficiency; compliance keeps your planes in the air and revenue flowing. By upgrading or replacing systems well before the deadlines, you can avoid being grounded, save time and money on the work, and avoid component backlogs and rushed projects. Best of all, you can start taking advantage of the mandate benefits sooner and create the best flight experience possible for passengers and crews.