US Carriers Eye Cockpit Traffic Displays Ahead of Possible Mandate
US airlines are considering equipping planes with ADS-B In cockpit traffic displays before any legal requirement, following a deadly midair crash in January.
Several US airlines are exploring the adoption of an advanced cockpit safety technology ahead of any legal requirement, according to the head of a company that installs the equipment on Airbus jets.
Acron Technologies, which has already equipped American Airlines' single-aisle Airbus fleet with the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In (ADS-B In) platform, is in discussions with most major US carriers. Acron CEO Alan Crawford said on Thursday that these conversations could lead to another order by the end of the year.
The interest comes as US lawmakers weigh two legislative proposals that could mandate ADS-B In. The push follows the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, which killed 67 people.
"I don't think the industry is waiting to see what passes ultimately from a legislative perspective," Crawford said, noting that customers have indicated a desire to place orders soon.
While US commercial jets are already required to carry ADS-B Out transmitters, which broadcast a plane's position, ADS-B In is an optional receiver that displays real-time traffic information to pilots in the cockpit. The Air Line Pilots Association has voiced support for a congressional mandate, arguing the technology improves situational awareness and helps prevent midair collisions.
Safety regulators have investigated several near-miss incidents in US airspace in recent years. Other cockpit safety tools are also advancing, with Honeywell Aerospace's SURF-A software—designed to prevent runway collisions—expected to receive certification later this year.
However, one industry source noted that some airlines prefer to wait for legislation before investing, fearing they might face additional costs later to meet new legal standards. Crawford said equipping a plane with ADS-B In costs in the tens of thousands of dollars.
United Airlines has already stated that its new widebody deliveries will include ADS-B In, and it is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to equip other aircraft types. Delta Air Lines deferred comment to the industry trade group Airlines for America, which was not immediately available.