On 6/21/2010 7:27 AM, Mike Schumann wrote:

FLARM isnt't going to solve all of the problems, but I am pretty sure
that it would have prevented the incident we are talking about.

Andreas



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.
It's going to take more that the availability of ADS-B units; they are
going to have to mandated by the FAA or mandated by the SSA for use in
contests, or no one will buy them. An ADS-B unit currently provides no
protection in glider contests you can't get from a FLARM, which is a
superior collision avoidance device for gliders, and people aren't
buying FLARMS. FLARM even has an IGC logger in it for extra value,
something you won't get with the ADS-B units, but USA pilots still
aren't interested. I don't think they believe their risk of collision is
very high. If pilots saw things as Bob 7U sees them, all the contest
pilots would be using FLARM already.

If FLARM was mandated for contests by the SSA, and made relatively
inexpensive to rent for a contest, that would ensure everyone used them
without too much grumbling. That could be done "right now", or certainly
in time for the next season, without an FAA intervention. Another
approach would be to require transponders in all contest gliders (at
least for Nationals), and also require an MRX transponder detector. That
would let you know when a glider was near you and the relative altitude,
and keep the airliners away. It would have value when you weren't flying
in a contest, and "significant number" of Nationals contestants already
have a transponder and/or MRX.

ADS-B is the future, but as currently planned, I don't think glider
pilots will find it compelling for many years. Cost is not the only issue.

Darryl, don't be shy about contradicting me!

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (netto to net to email me)

- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz