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Old April 6th 08, 04:17 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Mike Schumann
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Posts: 539
Default (USA) NTSB issues recommendations to the FAA and the SSA regarding transponder use in gliders

I don't think that AOPA has gone as far as supporting mandatory ADS-B
deployment in aircraft without electrical systems, gliders, and balloons.
They have been primarily focused on eliminating the current FAA strategy to
require both Mode C and ADS-B on aircraft in Class B airspace and above 10K
MSL.

Mike Schumann

"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
news:2XVJj.99$PJ3.18@trndny02...
Mike Schumann wrote:
There are obviously some challenges in getting this commercialized. The
biggest challenge is to get the FAA to accept the notion that there
should be a VFR only version of ADS-B that is designed to be cost
effective, and does not provide the accuracy and reliability levels
needed for parallel instrument approaches in Class B airspace.

My gut instinct (I don't have any experience dealing with the FAA) is
that we can get the FAA to provide a mechanism so that this type of
device can be sold commercially at a ~$1K price point. Politically,
it would help a lot of the SSA, AOPA, and the EAA took the position
that universal deployment would be acceptable, if equipment was
available to the GA community at this price point.


Certainly, AOPA is already doing that. See this for their position on
ADS-B implementation:

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/air_traffic/ads-b.html

Some highligts from that page:

4. The cost of the ADS-B datalink system must be at or below today's
price of a Mode C transponder.


5. Once the ADS-B mandate becomes effective, aircraft should not be
required to be equipped with a Mode C transponder.


The AOPA-preferred UAT datalink is capable of providing pilots with three
separate but related services:


3. FIS-B (Flight Information Services). FIS-B data includes graphic
Nexrad weather radar and textual METAR/TAF data. In the future, FIS-B
services may include graphic TFR data.


I believe all glider pilots should also be members of AOPA. I've been one
for more than 25 years. They do a lot heavy lifting that the SSA can not,
related to airplanes (think towplanes), airspace, required equipment
(ADS-B is the focus now), and pilot rights. The magazine is ocasionally
interesting, and the dues are reasonable.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

* Updated! "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* New Jan '08 - sections on Mode S, TPAS, ADS-B, Flarm, more

* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org




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