Flarm in 2011 USA Contests

Choice 1: Rental FLARMs left on the ground while we have FLARMless
gliders in the air = ??% FLARM usage in contests
Choice 2: Require FLARM usage if they are available = 100% FLARM usage
in contests

Choice 1 was chosen by the Rules Committee.

I will not take that chance so I will not participate, this has been a
very steadfast position I have taken all along.

This leaves a situation where I can only hope that I am wrong while
the RC can only hope that they are right.

Dale

On Nov 17, 8:50*pm, DaleKramer wrote:
Choice 1: Rental FLARMs left on the ground while we have FLARMless
gliders in the air = ??% FLARM usage in contests
Choice 2: Require FLARM usage if they are available = 100% FLARM usage
in contests

Choice 1 was chosen by the Rules Committee.

I will not take that chance so I will not participate, this has been a
very steadfast position I have taken all along.

This leaves a situation where I can only hope that I am wrong while
the RC can only hope that they are right.

Dale

Dale,

Not sure why you are so upset. You were asking the rules committee to
require the use of vapor-ware without any trial period. If the
SuperFLARM units arrive in time for the next contest season and they
work properly I would guess we will see them required in 2012. It is
a stretch to require something that is continually pushed back on
delivery dates and has not been tested yet.

I would guess that if we have a rental set in the country we will see
them used during the 2011 contest season. I look forward to using it
in the future.

Tim

We can argue all day about how vapor-ware they really are but that
does not matter.

When they come, they will work or the plan was that they would not
have been offered for rent.

There was no reason NOT to have the rule in place prior to that time.

Dale

On Nov 17, 11:14*pm, DaleKramer wrote:

There was no reason NOT to have the rule in place prior to that time.

Dale

Other than the fact that you cannot herd cats.

I'm okay with the RC position. Clearly, so are others.

The rental idea and the support you've gotten for it is brilliant. I
could be wrong on this, but I don't think the support was exclusively
based on MIRA. Before you go scorched earth, I hope you give someone
else the opportunity to take over the project.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

Evan,

Because I have acted on this report so quickly, there is nothing on
the earth to scorch. I would never do that anyway.

I have done the honorable thing and withdrawn when I feel that I can
no longer support the direction that this has taken.

I have been completely up front and open about my intentions and
everything that has happened.

The only thing withheld has been the specific terms of the tentative
agreement with FLARM Technology at their request.

Everything relevant to the program has been published and the next
volunteer can easily proceed.

I wish everyone the best but I choose not to participate.

Dale

On Nov 18, 6:54*am, DaleKramer wrote:
Evan,

Because I have acted on this report so quickly, there is nothing on
the earth to scorch. *I would never do that anyway.

I have done the honorable thing and withdrawn when I feel that I can
no longer support the direction that this has taken.

I have been completely up front and open about my intentions and
everything that has happened.

The only thing withheld has been the specific terms of the tentative
agreement with FLARM Technology at their request.

Everything relevant to the program has been published and the next
volunteer can easily proceed.

I wish everyone the best but I choose not to participate.

Dale

Like virtually all US competition glider pilots, I think the
introduction of PowerFlarm will result in a significant improvement in
safety and I look forward to getting one myself. Even though I live in
free-wheeling regulation-free Arizona, where I can drive a motorcycle
without a helmet and carry a concealed firearm without a permit, I
encourage colleagues here also to acquire a PowerFlarm.

However, on mandatory use in 2011 I am with the committee on this
one. To mandate the use of a device which has yet to be fully tested
and receive FCC approval is premature. All complex electronic devices
like this require a learning curve in their introduction and usage and
a period of time to eliminate glitches and upgrade firmware. I would
be extremely surprised if the first units to arrive work seamlessly
from the get-go. I'll buy mine from the second batch to arrive here
after my colleagues have done the trouble-shooting!

I also have some concerns about a rental program requiring the
temporary installation of a unit. I like stuff bolted to my panel and
I like to be fully familiar with electronics before I fly in a
demanding contest. I am not sure that having a significant number of
pilots in a contest with a loose device Velcroed or duck-taped to the
glider and having them read the user manual in a gaggle is the best
way to proceed.

No criticism intended to those who tried to get the program going -
just my perspective on a difficult issue.

Mike

Mike,

See the mount design I came up with at http://www.FlarmFund.org/flarm_fund_003.htm

Dale

On 11/18/2010 6:43 AM, Mike the Strike wrote:

I also have some concerns about a rental program requiring the
temporary installation of a unit. I like stuff bolted to my panel and
I like to be fully familiar with electronics before I fly in a
demanding contest. I am not sure that having a significant number of
pilots in a contest with a loose device Velcroed or duck-taped to the
glider and having them read the user manual in a gaggle is the best
way to proceed.


Don't worry about the device being "loose": the 3M "mushroom" tape is
fully capable of keeping the unit in place under 20 G+ forces, based on
the testing of my SPOT mounting, which uses less than 2 sq. inches of
the stuff. Note that Mountain High has supplied the stuff for over a
decade to mount their oxygen controllers of similar weight and size,
with no problems I'm aware of, including the two EDS units I've used
over 15 years now.

Come'on - reading a manual in the cockpit? I haven't used Flarm, but
since it's not required for flying the glider or for performing the
task, it'll be "turn it on and forget about it till it squawks". If it
squawks too much, the pilot will just turn if off (or mute it) and
continue like he has for years, no more safety risk than before, and
then educate himself after he's landed.

These are not primary contest devices, like the flight computer!

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl
- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz

Give us a break. What do you expect when you try shoving Flarm down our
throats and want it to be mandatory immediately. The RC made several
good points. Give us time to aborb the issue and gain experience with
Flarm
once it gets here.
GL






At Ll13:54 18 November 2010, DaleKramer wrote:
Evan,

Because I have acted on this report so quickly, there is nothing on
the earth to scorch. I would never do that anyway.

I have done the honorable thing and withdrawn when I feel that I can
no longer support the direction that this has taken.

I have been completely up front and open about my intentions and
everything that has happened.

The only thing withheld has been the specific terms of the tentative
agreement with FLARM Technology at their request.

Everything relevant to the program has been published and the next
volunteer can easily proceed.

I wish everyone the best but I choose not to participate.

Dale

Greg,

That is exactly what I am giving you, a break.

Please do not let this thread deteriorate further, it is too
important.

Dale