God, I wish winter would end...

So, I'm not intelligent or safety conscious because I don't want to buy the
same equipment that you think is cheap? I just spent about $3,000
installing a Mode S transponder in my glider when it's not required by any
regulation, but it should make me more visible to ATC, airliners, TCAS
equipped aircraft, etc. These are the things I'm worried about close to the
big airport 40 miles away. I'm just not interested in a device that will
only alert me (maybe) to other aircraft with the same equipment.

There's no room in my cockpit to install another box. Oh, yes, I could
replace something that I want in my panel, mount it on top of the glare
shield or jury-rig some sort of mount that hangs off the canopy frame, but
that would block my view outside thus requiring me to rely on the magic box
to protect me from the target blocked from my view by the box itself. And,
by the way, I had a close encounter with a VFR twin engined aircraft just
last week, but eyes outside for both of us prevented a collision.

If the contest committee wants to require FLARM to fly in sanctioned
contests, that's fine with me. I haven't flown a contest since GPS scoring
became required.

It seems to me that those wanting FLARM to be in all gliders are those who
want to fly in close proximity to a bunch of other gliders (contests). I,
and many like me, aren't interested in contests or gaggles. I fly in very
remote areas with relatively few aircraft and FLARM could only benefit me
within a few miles of the home airport. FLARM sounds good for you.

Maybe I'll change my opinion when there's something that doesn't depend on
equipment not likely to ever appear in the vast majority of other aircraft,
ADS-B, perhaps. When the airlines and general aviation crowd install FLARM,
come talk to me about it.


"Sean Fidler" wrote in message
news:2683016.848.1327541960711.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@yqlp13...
I think any intelligent, safety conscious cross country glider (flying in
area's where other gliders, tow-planes, etc are regularly operating) pilot
would (out of respect to him/herself and his/her fellow pilots lives and
safety) spend the $1600 to greatly improve his/her situation awareness
relating to collision risk with gliders and other aircraft. I say this with
as much restraint as possible.

I can say that in Uvalde last summer I came within 100m of a head on
collision (open class gliders) twice on the same day. I can guarantee that
neither of them saw me. I believe this was on the first or second contest
day. It scared the **** out of me because the never flinched...and this
kind of thing a risk we all needlessly assume when one or some pilots are
not protecting all of us.

About 30 seconds later I picked up a FLARM equipped glider and was able to
pick it up roughly 1 mile away and steer clear.

It seems fairly irrational to me NOT to take advantage of an affordable,
available anti collision instrument which when operating properly (and in
all aircraft) greatly decreases the risk of a surprise collision (the kind
where each pilot is completely unaware that the other glider is
approaching).

Unfortunately, the reality is that this kind of intelligent, rational action
will not happen until yet another pilot (or pair of pilots...perhaps more)
are killed in the next (now pointless) fatal collision. I would not be
surprised if, ironically, it was a FLARM glider vs. a non FLARM glider.

Mandatory is a bad word, agreed. But pilots respecting safety intensely
(their own as well as their fellow pilots (both glider and power)) is a
great thing in my opinion. I wish we had more of these kind of pilots.

I have only been flying for 8-9 years to date... and very limited at that.
I have now flown 4-5 contests. I have narrowly missed collision now at
least 4 times. I wonder how many I did not see at all?

Flying without a electronic means of warning for collision is not an IF
questions, it is a WHEN questions. Unfortunately, when the next big name
contest or cross country pilot dies because of a midair...this debate will
end.

Until then,

Sean
F2