Flarm in 2011 USA Contests

Peter said:

In Germany we get rebates of 5% / 10% / 15% for group orders of 6+ / 10+
/ 20+ FLARM units. You don't have to be *a formal group like a club, an
informal group of individuals will do fine.

Normally, someone puts a small ad on the website of segeflug.de, seeking
for other people wanting to join in to get a better rebate.

This works well since several years, and by this method I got my FLARM
for my newly purchased glider for a reasonable price.

The FLARM company recognizes the device only works best when all
gliders in a group (club) are equipped with the device. A small
percentage of gliders and towplanes equipped with FLARM defeats the
intended anti-collision safety features. In order to encourage as many
aircraft as possible within a local group to be equipped with FLARM,
they offer a graduated discount for the group. Groups should consider
FLARM as a "safety system" to help prevent collisions in the flying
space where they fly the most.

As a FLARM dealer, I am trying to encourage as many individuals to
equip with FLARM so they are protected when they fly at our soaring
site (lots of gliders flying from different soaring sites on our
ridges.) These same FLARM equipped aircraft fly the most hours at
their local club, and for many (most?) this means in thermal
conditions. Thermalling is another midair high risk arena, and gliders
as well as towplanes will benefit - probably during more flying hours
each year than when visiting a ridge/wave site, or flying in contests
during the year.

FLARM dealers will have no way to enforce the intent of the company
policy, however, those who are trying to save what amounts to only a
few dollars, should consider the goals of the anti-collision "system."
The largest discount incentive is to place your order before the first
of the year, and we dealers are encouraged by the number of pilots who
are placing their orders now.

Tom Knauff