Final countdown as Electronic Conspicuity Rebate Scheme ends

At a glance

• Scheme for general aviation pilots to claim a 50 per cent rebate of the cost of purchasing of an Electronic Conspicuity device due to end.
• The UK Civil Aviation Authority is urging light aircraft pilots to take up the offer before 31 March 2024 deadline.
• Electronic Conspicuity devices can enhance aviation safety, helping avoid mid-air collisions and increase situational awareness in the air.

Light aircraft pilots are being urged by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to act quickly to benefit from a scheme allowing them to claim a rebate of up to £250 towards devices that can improve safety and situational awareness.

Pilots have until 31 March 2024 to apply for the Electronic Conspicuity Rebate scheme, which aims to encourage wider use of the technology used in light aircraft.

The devices can help improve pilot awareness of other aircraft such as planes, gliders, helicopters and drones to avoid collisions and increase airspace safety.

Eligible pilots can claim 50 per cent of the cost (capped at a £250 rebate) of an Electronic Conspicuity device through the scheme.

So far, the Department for Transport (DfT) funded programme, administered by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, has given out almost £1.8million in funding to thousands of pilots since its launch in late 2020*.

Jon Round, Head of Airspace, Aerodromes and Air Traffic Management at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

"The Electronic Conspicuity Rebate Scheme has been crucial in advancing aviation safety in light aircraft.

“These devices have been proven to help pilots to mitigate the risk of mid-air collisions, as well as being a key enabler for the safe and efficient integration of airspace users.

"We’ve seen thousands of pilots take advantage of the scheme, and with limited time left, we urge eligible pilots to apply to the rebate scheme to benefit from the contribution towards such devices, enhancing their situational awareness in the skies."

As well as enhancing airspace safety, Electronic Conspicuity is vital to enabling the safe and efficient integration of airspace for all airspace users, one of the objectives of the regulator's Airspace Modernisation Strategy.

Electronic Conspicuity is an umbrella term for the technology that can help General Aviation pilots, drone operators and air traffic services be more aware of what is flying in surrounding airspace.

It includes the devices fitted to aircraft and unmanned systems that send out position information, and the support infrastructure on the ground to help them work together.

A recent report published by the UK Civil Aviation Authority looked at the importance of Electronic Conspicuity devices, and how Human Factors affect the safe use of the technology. The findings of the report will be used alongside new research the regulator has commissioned to set a future standard for the use of Electronic Conspicuity equipment.

Notes to editors

• Full eligibility and requirement details, and instructions on how to apply for the Electronic Conspicuity Rebate Scheme can be found on the UK Civil Aviation Authority website.
• *Correct as of 30 November 2023.
• As part of the airspace Modernisation Strategy and UK Future of flight Programme, UK Civil Aviation Authority previously engaged the services of an external contractor (Egis) which resulted in a report that recommends ‘Minimum technical standards for EC and associated surveillance’. As a result of the findings of this report the Department for Transport and the UK Civil Aviation Authority made a joint statement that, broadly, ADS-B 1090MHz is to be deployed for the use of crewed aircraft and 978MHz will be used for RPAS, the findings of this work will be used to validate this.
• The new report on Human Factors can be found on the UK Civil Aviation Authority website
• The UK Civil Aviation Authority published it’s refreshed Airspace Modernisation Strategy in January 2023, setting out a vision for the future of UK airspace which will help deliver quicker, quieter and cleaner journeys, as well as create more capacity for the benefit for those who use and are affected by UK airspace