AOPA will be closed Tuesday December 24th, and Wednesday, December 25th in observance of the holiday. We will reopen Thursday morning, December 26th at 8:30am ET.
Get extra lift from AOPA. Start your free membership trial today! Click here
Pilot Resources Aircraft & Ownership ADS-B Where is ADS-B Out Required?

Where is ADS-B Out Required?

The FAA requires ADS-B Out capability in the continental United States, in the ADS-B rule airspace designated by FAR 91.225:

  • Class A, B, and C airspace;
  • Class E airspace at or above 10,000 feet msl, excluding airspace at and below 2,500 feet agl;
  • Within 30 nautical miles of a Class B primary airport (the Mode C veil);
  • Above the ceiling and within the lateral boundaries of Class B or Class C airspace up to 10,000 feet;
  • Class E airspace over the Gulf of Mexico, at and above 3,000 feet msl, within 12 nm of the U.S. coast.

There is a graphical depiction and additional information on the FAA website.


Outside the United States 

At this time, only the United States is allowing the 978UAT datalink for ADS-B Out. If you plan to fly in ADS-B airspace outside of the United States, a 1090ES datalink—using a Mode S Extended Squitter transponder—will be required. Because the list of countries with ADS-B Out requirements and proposals is growing, we strongly recommend equipping with 1090ES if you plan to fly internationally. Countries that employ space-based ADS-B may require 1090ES with antenna diversity, meaning transponder antennas on both the belly and top of the aircraft. Remember that for countries without a mandate, there is no ADS-B Out requirement.


Countries with ADS-B Out mandates and proposals include:

Australia. 1090ES required for all IFR operations. 
Canada. Nav Canada has stated its intent to require 1090ES ADS-B Out equipage with antenna diversity, but rulemaking has not been completed. Nav Canada will use the Aireon space-based ADS-B system, of which it is an owner.
Europe. 1090ES required for IFR aircraft with a MTOW exceeding 12,566 pounds or maximum cruise airspeed faster than 250 KTAS.
Hong Kong. 1090ES required in all airspace, FL290 and above.
Indonesia. 1090ES required, FL290 and above.
Mexico. Mexico’s January 2020 mandate for 1090ES ADS-B has been delayed to January 1, 2022. AOPA has learned Mexico will consider including 978 MHz as an option for compliance. 
Singapore. 1090ES required on specified airways.
South Africa. 1090ES required for all IFR operations and for any aircraft first registered or replacing its transponder and flown in Class A, B, D, or E airspace.
Sri Lanka. 1090ES required within the Colombo Terminal Control Area (TMA), FL290 and above.
Taiwan. 1090ES required in all airspace, FL290 and above.
Vietnam. 1090ES required on specified airways.