On 6/21/2010 11:18 AM, Wayne Paul wrote:

"Mike wrote in message ...
On 6/20/2010 8:23 PM, Andreas Maurer wrote:

... Snip ...


FLARM is useless unless everyone is equipped. That is NOT going to
happen in the US. Low cost ADS-B could be available tomorrow if the FAA
would certify the units. NAVWORX and MITRE have working prototypes that
could go into production overnight if we can get the FAA to get off
their but.

We need to get people to send letters to Randy Babbitt to get some top
level attention to this. It also wouldn't hurt to copy Craig Fuller at
AOPA. They should be pushing this a LOT more agresively than they have.

--
Mike Schumann

Just courious, what do you consider "Low Cost." Us guys with old inexpensive sailplanes would like to know.

Wayne


There is no inherent reason that ADS-B UAT transceivers using consumer
grade GPS and RF components can't be built for the same general price
point as FLARM units. The only difference in the hardware is frequency
and transmit power.

FLARM units are currently available in Europe for about $1,000. With a
potential US market that is 10x larger, there should be no reason you
can't hit this price point. There are only two things that can stop this:

1. Inability to use consumer grade components.
2. Product liability insurance costs.

If ADS-B transceivers were available at this price point, we would see
very widespread voluntary deployment, just like in Europe, where most
gliders are FLARM equipped.

--
Mike Schumann