On Friday, May 4, 2018 at 6:12:04 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Friday, May 4, 2018 at 5:48:56 PM UTC-4, jfitch wrote:
On Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 6:17:55 PM UTC-7, WB wrote:
Smart phones can talk to each other (through the cell system, duh) and they have substantial computing power. They have GPS so they know where they are, how high they are, and how fast they are going. We know they can output and receive that data in flight because we use them to track our gliders giving out our position, climb rate, and ground speed and we can view those tracks on the very same phone. I would guess that there's a smart phone in the cockpit of nearly every light aircraft flying. So, my question is: Why is there no situational awareness app for our phones? Yes, I know about the limitations of the cell system and the phones, especially in flight. I wouldn't expect a cell phone based system to perform in every category as well as the all singing, all dancing PowerFlarm. In it's favor, such an app could be nearly free compared to $2000 for a PowerFlarm setup. Considering the "installed base" of smart phones, the penetration of such an app could be very rapid and widespread, maybe even approaching near universal adoption. So what if it does not do everything that a PowerFlarm does? Even if it only provided a snapshot of the local traffic every 5 or even 10 second, the safety benefits (outside of racing gaggles) would far exceed PowerFlarm simply because of the potential for such rapid and widespread adoption. Everyone could finally see everyone.

C'mon, I know I ain't the first person, or even the 10,000th to have this idea. If I had any idea how to code an app, or the time to learn how. I'd give it a try myself.

WB (doped to the gills on cold meds and exhausted from a 950 mile drive, so forgive me if the above is gibberish)

More situational awareness is always good. The problem with calling it "collision avoidance" is that it would be highly unreliable. Just in the systems mentioned on this thread and the other couple active ones, we could have 5 gliders in a thermal, each with different and incompatible "collision avoidance" systems. These things depend on universal - or at least ubiquitous - adoption for efficacy. A cell phone base solution will do nothing for collision with other aircraft, even if adopted in all gliders.

I am beginning to wish that sailplanes would lose their ADS-B out exemption.....
I am beginning to wish that the SSA required PowerFlarm for all competition.....
It's a bad feeling for a libertarian, but where personal responsibility is lacking, rules step in.

If SSA cucks on transponders I'm going to be asking the chief council all sorts of fun questions. Nothing about towhooks. Lolzlollz

Like what, exactly? I can't wait to hear. Puff up that manly chest dude, and tell us. Or maybe just quit behaving like an idiot and can it.

I just had a phone call from a buddy who used to fly at Middletown. I've flown there, I know the setup. I told him: "If I were going to be flying routinely at Middletown (or Blairstown, or Wurtsboro), I'd have a transponder next week." And: you guys ought to be flying with transponders on any club equipment that goes over about 4500'. You guys are on borrowed time without and if you were honest you'd admit it and do something about it before you cause an accident and saddle us all with an equipment mandate (or worse).

T8