On Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:43:56 -0700, Ian Strachan wrote:

Subject: IGC-approval issued for Colibri recorder with Flarm.

I am pleased to announce that, after appropriate evaluation and testing
by the IGC GNSS
Flight Recorder Approval Committee (GFAC), a revised IGC-approval
document has been
issued for the LX Navigation Colibri flight recorder. The testing
involved the latest Colibri
version which has a Flarm (Flight Alarm) proximity warning module inside
the recorder.

-------------------------

This brings to two the IGC-approved flight recorders that have a Flarm
proximity warning
function in addition to the recording facility. The IGC-approval for
the Flarm-equipped LX
Navigation LX7007F recorder was issued on 17 March 2006. This approval
is also for "all
flights".

Meanwhile, as announced at the recent IGC Plenary meeting, the IGC GFA
Committee is
testing two other types of recorders with Flarm, with a view to IGC-
approval in due course.
These are Swiss Flarm by the Flarm company of Zurich, and the LXN Red
Box Flarm by LX
Navigation of Slovenia.

The current Flarm firmware (for the genuine Flarm devices) has a built in
expiry date of 28 Feb 2008. All Flarms have to be upgraded on or
shortly before this date. This is I presume is to facilitate upgrades in
the Flarm communication protocol. I assume the above devices will also
have to be upgraded regularly.

Can the Flarm firmware in these sealed Logger/Flarm devices be upgraded
by their owners or will they have to be shipped back to a certified
workshop who has been issued with the appropriate electronic "key" to
re-instate the security status of the Logger?

Regards


Ian