Flarm systems with ADS-B In are eligible
By Kevin Wilson
Did you know that installing a FLARM system with ADS-B IN is eligible for the ADS-B rebate of up to 50% of the project cost, excluding GST, under the Round 2 criteria?
This article describes how members at a GAus club in Western Australia have made successful ADS-B rebate claims for FLARM with ADS-B IN, including a $5,000 rebate for a LX9070 system.
“The objective of the Program is to incentivise voluntary uptake of ADS-B equipment in Australian‑registered aircraft operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to improve safety and efficiency for Australian airspace users.”
Source – Program Guide
In December 2024, my club, Beverley Soaring Society in WA, was looking to replace the classic FlarmMouse devices in four of our club owned gliders.
At that time, I was assisting with the Western Australia Gliding Association (WAGA) and WAGA SkyView Display development programme. [Topics of planned future GAus magazine articles.] This initiative aimed to produce a low-cost, genuine PowerFLARM solution that would encourage cost-conscious glider owners in WA to install a FLARM system so as to achieve the WAGA goal of equipping 100% of gliders and tugs with FLARM. We were exploring all possible ways to reduce the cost of FLARM systems to our members, with a target of under $1,000 per installed unit.
When reading through the Rebate Round 2 criteria, I noticed that the wording had changed since the first round. Round 2 states that eligible equipment now includes:
"... on or after 1 June 2024 – for a device which provides ADS-B-IN functionality or a device which provides ADS-B-IN and OUT functionality."
As there are numerous FLARM devices that have integrated ADS-B IN, I wondered if it could really be the case that a FLARM device with ADS-B IN is eligible for the rebate.
Also I saw the requirement in the Program Guidelines that the equipment must be installed by an Approved Installer, defined as "a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME) or another installer CASA considers to be qualified". Would a GAus Annual Inspector be acceptable?
I posted on the GAus forum in December 2024 asking if anybody had made a successful rebate claim for FLARM with ADS-B IN. I was surprised when I got no response, since Round 2 had been open since May 2024. Did this mean that these devices were not eligible, or simply that no one had yet claimed? Or had no claimant read the GFA Forum?
I contacted GFA to see if they knew whether a FLARM device with ADS-B IN was eligible and if an Annual Inspector is considered qualified by CASA. I spoke with Doug Flockhart (GAus CEO), who advised that CASA had not discussed the Round 2 criteria changes with Gaus, so GAus did not know. He took on the task of following up with CASA. Subsequent feedback was that we would have to make a rebate application to test for eligibility.
In WA during early 2025, we pressed ahead with the WAGA FLARM development and included integrated ADS-B IN as a cost-effective and safety-positive addition. We thought the WAGA FLARM would satisfy the ADS-B rebate criteria, but this was not certain at that point.
Then, in July 2025, a club member installed his WAGA FLARM with SkyView Display and submitted an ASD-B rebate claim, in which he used his GAus Annual Inspector qualification for the installation certification.
The rebate scheme administration team at Business Gov.au was very efficient but not technical. It seemed there was no precedent of FLARM devices with ADS-B IN having been claimed or approved. They responded asking for more information about PowerFlarm with ADS-B IN and also the WAGA product brand. We provided the required information. After 6 weeks – probably delayed due to the admin team seeking eligibility clarification from CASA – the club member was advised that his rebate application had been accepted!
By then I was ready to submit claims for our four club gliders in which we had installed WAGA FLARMs and utilised existing LX S100 displays. I found the application process to be relatively simple, requiring filling in an online form and attaching a photocopy of the aircraft’s Certificate of Registration and a completed installer’s certification form.
The only query I received back related to the $50 unit cost of the WAGA SkyView display that was shown on the WAGA invoice template, but not claimed for these gliders. They asked if we had made an error because they had received other claims where the SkyView cost was $6,000. We explained the WAGA SkyView is a different device to Dynon HDX SkyView!
Within a few weeks, I had confirmation of acceptance of our rebate application and a month later we received the payment to our bank. So, we have successfully updated four of our club gliders with a PowerFlarm (with ADS-B IN) for a cost after ADS-B rebate of approximately $500 per glider.
Encouraged by the Club’s rebate claim success, another member submitted a claim for an expensive LX9070 (with integrated ADS-B IN) system that he had recently installed. He has now received payment of the maximum allowable $5,000 rebate.
It is possible, indeed likely, that other members of GAus have made successful rebate claims for FLARM with integrated ADS-B IN prior to my club’s claims, but I find it surprising that there has been little publicity or chatter about this wonderful opportunity.
We have now concluded that it has been proven that FLARM with integrated ADS-B IN is eligible for the ADS-B Round 2 rebate and can be certified (for a glider) by an GAus Annual Inspector. Since the rebate is for the project cost, then it seems that if a display needs to be added to show the ADS-B IN traffic, or if the project is a navigation system upgrade that adds FLARM with ADS-B IN, then you can apply.
If you have upgraded your avionics since May 2024 and gained ADS-B IN capability then you can apply for the rebate. If you are thinking about upgrading your avionics with ADS-B IN, there has possibly never been a better time than now. The scheme ends 31 May 2027 or earlier if the funding is fully allocated.
Full details of the ADS-B Rebate scheme and how to apply are at tinyurl.com/ADSBgliding
