The FAA has extended the deadline for ADS-B Out compliance waivers in certain remote Alaska airspace. Operators in designated areas now have until December 2026.
Affected Areas
The extension applies to Class E airspace below 10,000 feet MSL in specific Alaskan flight information regions. Aircraft operating exclusively in these zones can continue without ADS-B equipment.
Who Qualifies
Bush operators flying older aircraft without electrical systems remain eligible. The waiver process requires documentation of typical flight routes and operational necessity.
Pilots must still carry a functioning transponder when entering controlled airspace elsewhere.
Background
The original 2020 mandate created hardship for operators of vintage aircraft in remote regions. Many backcountry planes lack the electrical capacity for modern avionics.
Alaska’s aviation community lobbied extensively for this accommodation, citing the unique challenges of flying in the state’s wilderness areas.
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