First Responder Operations

The FAA has established separate procedures for handling ADS-B ATC authorization requests for first responder agencies. First responders agencies should not use ADAPT, but should contact the ADAPT helpdesk via email at adapthelp@faa.gov.

Authorization for non-ADS-B equipped national defense, homeland security, and law enforcement purposes

As part of the ADS-B Mandate implementation, the FAA has established procedures to process ATC authorization requests to access ADS-B rule airspace after January 1, 2020, for aircraft that are owned/operated by Federal, State, and Local government agencies and conducting missions for national defense, homeland security, and law enforcement purposes in cases where those aircraft are not ADS-B Out equipped. These government operators should ensure that their agency has obtained ATC authorization from FAA System Operations Security. Agencies that have not yet obtained ATC authorization for their non-equipped aircraft to access ADS-B rule airspace should contact FAA System Operations Security via email at 9-ATOR-HQ-IFOS@faa.gov as soon as possible to allow time to appropriately address requests.