diff --git a/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.cpp b/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.cpp
index 478baf5fd5..40ed62cf62 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/GCS_Mavlink.cpp
@@ -414,11 +414,6 @@ bool GCS_MAVLINK_Plane::try_send_message(enum ap_message id)
     }
 
     switch (id) {
-    case MSG_HEARTBEAT:
-        CHECK_PAYLOAD_SIZE(HEARTBEAT);
-        last_heartbeat_time = AP_HAL::millis();
-        send_heartbeat();
-        return true;
 
     case MSG_EXTENDED_STATUS1:
         CHECK_PAYLOAD_SIZE(SYS_STATUS);