On Jan 23, 8:18*am, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Scott wrote:
kd6veb wrote:
I don't know why we are still discussing these issues -
transponders and PCAS are mandatory safety devices in my world. I
can't think of a reason why anyone would think otherwise.
Dave

One reason I worry about is that some people who would have them
installed start to depend on them to "alert" them of other traffic
rather than looking for traffic visually. *A similar example of
something that happened to me once...I was in my Aeronca Chief (powered
aircraft, NO radio) on (extended) base leg of the approach. *A guy in a
(faster) aircraft was about a mile out on final (after going way down on
downwind, giving him a about 3 miles of final approach). *With my slow
Chief, he should have been down and clear of the runway before I even
turned final. *All of a sudden, he makes a left turn and is heading
straight for me. *Assuming he sees me, I turn to the right and descend,
assuming he would go right and pull up (I went down because I could
change altitude faster than pulling up). *I cleared the area (WAY clear
of this guy), watch him land from afar and then came in to land. *I go
up to him and asked him if he saw me and why he made that turn right at
me. *His answer..."Nope didn't see you. *Were you on the radio? *I made
a missed approach and at uncontrolled airports, turns are made to the
left." *I then explained that he should have continued down the runway,
climb and rejoin the pattern on crosswind leg and that not all aircraft
have radios (or electrical systems to support them). *To me, it was
apparent that if he didn't hear anybody call in on the radio, there was
nobody else there.

It's easier for me to understand the pilot that thinks everyone has a
radio and uses it, than the pilot that doesn't carry a $200 handheld in
his Aeronca for the times he lands at an airport.

Scott, I've some bad news for you: what you fear is already here. Almost
all of us expect pilots to have and use a radio near an airport. Even
the cowboy ultralight guys I know have radios.

If it's the money that stops you from using a radio, tell us how much
you are willing to spend on a radio. I'm sure we can get up a collection
to make up the difference between that and a shiny new handheld.

--
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" atwww.motorglider.org- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I have to agree on that. I used to own an Aeronca Chief and had it
based at a controlled airport. There was no problem at all with using
a hand held radio, external antenna, and headphones and yoke mounted
PTT switch. Also used a similar setup in a J3 before that.

Andy