I dont understand why anonymous is such a point of contention. You have
to have a license plate on your car, dont you? and an N number on your
plane? A mode S transponder is the electronic equivalent of a license
plate. Even if it DOES seem big brother-like. Flying is a priveledge,
which can be granted or disallowed. I am of the mindset that positive ID
while excercising that priveledge is perfectly acceptable.

Ok.. if they want to charge fee's for service.. then let them charge..
they do in europe, dont they? Of course, if it costs 100 bux to file a
flight plan, I would expect everyone to stop filing flight plans.. (I'm
sure a more reasonable (for GA) solution would be a fee based on seats
or gross weight).

And the "stop the noise" zealots already CAN get your N-Number. With a
Mark 1 Mod A optical sensor (Eyeball) and pair of binoculars. While I am
a member of AOPA and I do pay my dues, I really dont see how GA/AOPA
fighting mode S tooth and nail is really doing us any benefit. There are
other issues that are more important in my mind (controller shortages,
inconsistent enforcement and PFR's) and that need to be addressed.

Dave

Scott Moore wrote:
Bob Noel wrote:

In article yjstc.9901$Ly.7087@attbi_s01, Scott Moore
wrote:


o Allow "anonymous mode-s", and so remove the light pilot/AOPA objection
to mode-s ? This has been proposed many times in many places. Apparently
the FAA would rather die than this, but why are they (apparently) going
to allow UAT to so do, but not mode-s ?



Mode-S doesn't have a provision for "anonymous." And changing
the specs for Mode-S would be, ahem, challenging. It's not
actually an FAA issue.


Well, I do understand the issue, but not why anonymous is so hard. The
shop programs the N number, right ? What is to prevent them from declaring
a "universal" N number (the equivalent of 1200) and just programming all
"protestants" with that on request ?




o Require UAT on airlines, so that everyone speaks the same language,
and
UAT eventually replaces mode-s as a more advanced method ? I could
hardly
blame the airlines for fighting that one. The FAA just got through
requiring
them to buy into mode-s. It would put the airlines into the position
of buying the "black box of the month" as the FAA changes with the wind.



bingo. The airlines had to install expensive tcas systems and
have to have Mode-S for that and other systems (for flight in Europe
and other areas). The airlines will fight tooth-n-nail requirements
to install duplicative systems.



In any case, it appears that the FAA, the AOPA and the airlines have all
already come to the solution:



not much of a solution...