I did some study on the Power Flarm and set in on the presentation at
the Little Rock Convention. It is interesting, but doesn't provide the
capabilities of ADS-B UAT. The plus is that it contains an IGC flight
recorder. It provides very good traffic location for Flarm and ADS-B
1090ES equipped aircraft. It works similar to a PCAS for mode C and S
transponder targets and receives their altitude reports and senses
distance. The traffic location is a good guess and alerts to get your
head up. I'm not sure what it would report if the transponders
altitude reporting was missing as you would have froma mode A
trasnponder. You do not have any of the ADS-B FIS (Flight Information
Services) such as Nexrad weather radar, TFR's, METARs, SIGMETs, etc.
Most importantly, only other aircraft equipped with Flarm would see
you! You would not be visible to ATC or aircraft equipped with TCAS,
PCS, etc.

In addition to all the FIS information that you can receive over ADS-B
UAT, you are visible to ATC. You are also visible directly visible to
other ADS-B UAT equipped aircraft. ADSB ground stations relay your UAT
position information to aircraft equipped with ADSB 1090ES. Those same
ground station also transmit all traffic ATC is following (primary
radar, Mode A/C/S transponder, ADSB 1090ES, ADSB UAT). Now you have a
much more complete picture of traffic, expect for Flarm only equipped
aircraft, and ATC and many other aircraft can see you!

I have nothing against Flarm and think it was a great technology.
However, it hasn't been adopted in the US. Why not go with with the
newer technology and receive the additional benefits along with the
safety of visibility to ATC and others? The pricing ranges for power
Flarm that ware discussed at the convention, would be similar to the
total cost of a Flight Recorder and the anticipated cost of the ADS-B
UAT.

Charlie


Have any of you considered this device?

http://www.powerflarm.aero/

It seems to have a lot more capability than just ADS-B

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