FLARM ethics

On jan 28th Flarm has announced that all of their devices need an update.
(see www.flarm.com)
This update has to be downloaded and installed before the end of march.
This update will be available "by early march", leaving max 3 weekends for
install at the airfield.
This update was "announced in 2011" and "is part of the flarm maintenance
concept".

What kind of "maintenance concept" is this?
They should announce on jan 28 a mandatory update due by JUNE 30th, not
MARCH 31!
And give people time enough time to update (at least 3 MONTHS BEFORE), not a
few days before.
We are talking about a collision avoidance system which is installed aboard:
airplanes, gliders, helicopters, and also paragliders.

Where is the firmware to update? Why if it is not available we must download
it "sometime in march" and run to the airfield to update all aircrafts?
Why FLARM cannot SCHEDULE after 4 YEARS a delivery date for the firmware,
and leave people at least 6 MONTHS for example to update it?

I have never seen in my life a company delivering a software with a time
bomb inside, announcing it like this. And this software is a collision
avoidance system.
They keep changing the "press release", so I copy and attach it to let you
understand what we are talking about.

... and the best part is the Tracking Server which is most probably the real
reason beyond all of this. But you have to figure it out yourself to
undestand why.



As of Feb 22: Press release on www.flarm.com

Scheduled and mandatory firmware update to all FLARM and PowerFLARM devices;
New TrackingServer

Baar, Switzerland – January 28, 2015 – FLARM Technology today announced that
a scheduled and mandatory firmware update is soon to be released for all
FLARM devices. The update is required for all FLARM-compatible designs. It
includes classic FLARM, PowerFLARM and FLARM manufactured by LXNAV, LX
Navigation, Garrecht/AIR Avionics, Triadis, Ediatec, Flytec/Bräuniger,
OzFlarm and others.

The update will be released by early March 2015 on www.flarm.com at no cost.
It includes safety features that increase the effectiveness and robustness
of collision warnings, further decreasing nuisance alarms, for example by
taking into account wind. It also includes new features to alert about
temporary danger areas such as skydiver drop zones, RC plane- and UAV zones.
Position and message encoding with newly introduced optional no-tracking
setting will address privacy for ground-based tracking solutions while
improving performance and system integrity. Some regions will see a change
in operating frequency, to improve range. The new obstacle database now
handles additional obstacle areas and types. Old obstacle database versions
are obsolete and will no longer work. Obstacle database and functionality
extension licenses can be purchased from shop.flarm.com.

This scheduled update has been announced with the last major firmware update
in 2011, and is part of the FLARM system maintenance concept since FLARM was
introduced to the market in 2004.

If the free FLARM update is not applied, the device will no longer be
operational and stop to operate after March 31, 2015.

Every FLARM device must be updated to the latest firmware and obstacle
database version at least once per year, which should be part of the regular
aircraft maintenance program. Failure to do so may render the device fully
or partially inoperable.

FLARM TrackingServer
In spring 2015, FLARM Technology will introduce a scalable TrackingServer
service, connecting FLARM ground stations and 3rd party receivers. This will
enable tracking of participating aircraft, for example during competitions
and by permitting flying clubs to track their own aircraft. It will fully
support the new no-tracking setting and existing FLARM “Stealth Mode� for
full global privacy. Search & Rescue operations (SAR) will have fast and
comprehensive access to the data. TrackingServer is designed to combine
various sources of tracking data such as FLARM radio packages (raw and
dataport), smart phone tracking, SPOT, FlarmNet and other sources, with its
core data and service accessible for everybody at no cost. FLARM ground
stations and airborne systems will eventually rebroadcast data received from
other sources to ensure maximal coverage regardless of the technology used,
using FLARM’s innovative, patented mesh-technology. FLARM Technology
welcomes other data sources and service enablers to collaborate with
TrackingServer.