ADS-B Out requirements for Mexico airspace were delayed until Jan. 1, 2022, according to a circular issued by the Mexican Civil Aviation Authority. Originally, the mandate was scheduled to go into effect this past January 1.

According to the circular, when the requirements do take effect, they will apply to operations in Mexico Class A, B, C, E airspace and Class E airspace above 10,000 feet. It is required now in Class E airspace over the Gulf of Mexico, at and above 3,000 feet msl within 12 nm of the Mexican coast.

The Mexican CAA gave no official reasons for the delay but several other countries have recently delayed their ADS-B compliance dates because required equipment either is not readily available or not installed in enough aircraft; government and ATC infrastructure for supporting ADS-B operations is not fully in place to meet the original deadline; and/or they are responding to stakeholder requests for a delay.

Last November, Nav Canada announced it was delaying its 2021 mandatory compliance with ADS-B in response to feedback from stakeholders. The company, which operates Canada’s ATC system, noted that ADS-B will be used for surveillance in Class A airspace starting in February 2021, but there will be no mandate for equipage at that time.