PowerFLARM at Uvalde

On Jul 27, 8:56*pm, Jim Logajan wrote:
Darryl Ramm wrote:
There was a lot there not to agree with, what in particular don't you
agree with?

He tried to close the dialog more diplomatically than I would, yet you
insist on repeating yourself.

Fascinating. I don't have a position on the whole FLARM question but
it's entertaining to follow along.

If you haven't ordered a PowerFLARM (which, I seem to recall, its
supporters insisted we mandate for U.S. contests this year because
they were certain they'd be available), you simply must. ASAP. Not to
is to be negligent regarding your life as well as others'. Unless you
aren't flying at Uvalde. Then let those guys have the gadgets first.
You should be willing to incur more risk for the sake of the common
good. Don't be so selfish. Personally, I try to avoid implying that
any one person's life is more or less important than any other life
(or lives), or that incurring a risk for a few weeks is OK compared to
being protected forever. At least to that person's face, figuratively
speaking. But maybe I simply don't have the same absolute conviction.

But wait, you aren't really increasing your risk by foregoing your new
PowerFLARM. It won't help you that much now anyway unless you're
flying with a bunch of FLARM-equipped gliders, right? And if YOU don't
have one, they don't either. It's only as good as PCAS. But...wasn't
that the most recent if-you-don't-buy-it-you're-negligent, must-have
gadget? Or was that a transponder? Doesn't matter, you should have
installed them both years ago. Shame on you. For penance, order two
PowerFLARMS now, take delivery when the promised new firmware is
released, and lend the other one to a contest pilot whose budget can't
quite accommodate another few thousand dollars of mandatory equipment
on top of everything else he's invested.

Oh, and install that transponder anyway. PowerFLARM isn't perfect,
it's just better. And if your panel won't accommodate all the added
"better but not best" hardware introduced every few years, order a new
glider while you're at it. We know you're rich, else you wouldn't be
flying sailplanes.

I'm reminded of the handwringing years ago over pilots flying heads
down and locked on their new GPS receivers, moving maps, flight
computers, etc. If it's a new gadget for SAFETY, though, not to worry.
Just switch it on and forget it. We know you'll have the mental
discipline not to be distracted while flying in a gaggle or at 110
kts. under a Uvalde cloud street.

By the way, the easiest way to avoid collisions at Uvalde is to set
courses that don't involve gliders converging head on from nearly
opposite directions. Relying on technology (e.g., PowerFLARM) to
shield us from risks like that is akin to driving around with an
unfastened seatbelt because the vehicle is equipped with airbags. I
don't think I've ever flown in an emptier sky.

In engineering school, we learned an expression: "First you draw the
curve, then you plot the points." To religion and politics, I would
add technology as an area of life where the true believers are
sometimes so zealous and certain that they lose the ability to reason
with perspective. iPhone vs. Android, anyone?

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA