If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors
Dear All:
I fly a G102 out of Alliance, Nebraska, for most of the year. Other than a daily commercial shuttle flight from Denver, there is almost no traffic at the airport or in the area where I soar. There are no other gliders at all. However, from time to time I'll come into contact with powered traffic, mostly casual fliers, crop dusters, and hunters. A couple times a year I take my glider to other locations, usually in areas with a lot more traffic both in terms of other gliders, commercial aircraft and general aviation. I've taken my glider to Air Sailing, Boulder, and Moriarity, and hope to take it to Minden, Parowan and other locations in the near future. My G102 is in excellent shape, and I've put quite a bit into it. With two kids in college and one who just entered third grade (good spacing), this glider will be with me for awhile . . . at least 10 years. I'm looking at installing either a transponder or PTD. I've read Eric Greenwell's excellent article on the Soaring Safety Foundation's web site about the differences, but I need some assistance in deciding between the two. The cost difference ($2500 vs. $500) isn't my primary concern. Its signficant, but since I'm going to keep the glider for awhile its not dispositive. I can afford one or the other, but not both. My primary concern is that a transponder won't tell me where other planes are and how to aovid them and is dependant on me being hooked into a tower. On the flip side, I'd really, really like the big planes traveling fast toward Reno approach to know where I am during my one or two weeks there in the spring. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, John Murphy, N184SS. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors
John,
I started with the Zaon MRX 2.5 years ago. It was a real eye-opener, in that I suddenly found out that my scan wasn't detecting anywhere near the traffic that was out there. Nine months ago I installed a transponder. I've since watched traffic I was following deviate a bit to avoid me. Both devices have added markedly to the phrase "see and be seen". Now, I fly in an area between Philadelphia, PA and Newark, NJ. To say it's busy is an understatement. If you were just staying in Alliance, I'd say you'd be fine with something like the MRX. But at Minden? Boulder? Get a transponder, too! What do you figure your life is worth? For about $3000 you can cover both options. -John John Murphy wrote: Dear All: I fly a G102 out of Alliance, Nebraska, for most of the year. Other than a daily commercial shuttle flight from Denver, there is almost no traffic at the airport or in the area where I soar. There are no other gliders at all. However, from time to time I'll come into contact with powered traffic, mostly casual fliers, crop dusters, and hunters. A couple times a year I take my glider to other locations, usually in areas with a lot more traffic both in terms of other gliders, commercial aircraft and general aviation. I've taken my glider to Air Sailing, Boulder, and Moriarity, and hope to take it to Minden, Parowan and other locations in the near future. My G102 is in excellent shape, and I've put quite a bit into it. With two kids in college and one who just entered third grade (good spacing), this glider will be with me for awhile . . . at least 10 years. I'm looking at installing either a transponder or PTD. I've read Eric Greenwell's excellent article on the Soaring Safety Foundation's web site about the differences, but I need some assistance in deciding between the two. The cost difference ($2500 vs. $500) isn't my primary concern. Its signficant, but since I'm going to keep the glider for awhile its not dispositive. I can afford one or the other, but not both. My primary concern is that a transponder won't tell me where other planes are and how to aovid them and is dependant on me being hooked into a tower. On the flip side, I'd really, really like the big planes traveling fast toward Reno approach to know where I am during my one or two weeks there in the spring. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, John Murphy, N184SS. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors
On Dec 14, 7:37*pm, jcarlyle wrote:
John, I started with the Zaon MRX 2.5 years ago. It was a real eye-opener, in that I suddenly found out that my scan wasn't detecting anywhere near the traffic that was out there. Nine months ago I installed a transponder. I've since watched traffic I was following deviate a bit to avoid me. Both devices have added markedly to the phrase "see and be seen". Now, I fly in an area between Philadelphia, PA and Newark, NJ. To say it's busy is an understatement. If you were just staying in Alliance, I'd say you'd be fine with something like the MRX. But at Minden? Boulder? Get a transponder, too! What do you figure your life is worth? For about $3000 you can cover both options. -John John Murphy wrote: Dear All: I fly a G102 out of Alliance, Nebraska, for most of the year. *Other than a daily commercial shuttle flight from Denver, there is almost no traffic at the airport or in the area where I soar. *There are no other gliders at all. *However, from time to time I'll come into contact with powered traffic, mostly casual fliers, crop dusters, and hunters. A couple times a year I take my glider to other locations, usually in areas with a lot more traffic both in terms of other gliders, commercial aircraft and general aviation. *I've taken my glider to Air Sailing, Boulder, and Moriarity, and hope to take it to Minden, Parowan and other locations in the near future. My G102 is in excellent shape, and I've put quite a bit into it. *With two kids in college and one who just entered third grade (good spacing), this glider will be with me for awhile . . . *at least 10 years. I'm looking at installing either a transponder or PTD. *I've read Eric Greenwell's excellent article on the Soaring Safety Foundation's web site about the differences, but I need some assistance in deciding between the two. The cost difference ($2500 vs. $500) isn't my primary concern. *Its signficant, but since I'm going to keep the glider for awhile its not dispositive. *I can afford one or the other, but not both. My primary concern is that a transponder won't tell me where other planes are and how to aovid them and is dependant on me being hooked into a tower. *On the flip side, I'd really, really like the big planes traveling fast toward Reno approach to know where I am during my one or two weeks there in the spring. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. *Thanks, John Murphy, N184SS. Well try to buy both, and in the big picture a PCAS unit is not that much more to add to the price of a transponder. It might equate to the cost of a few long tows or an extra weekend at the gliderport. If you can't buy both... You will have to assess what the most critcal risk is, however if you fly in high traffic areas even for a few weeks a year, with lots of fast jet traffic nearby I'd say it's no contest, get the transponder first. Fast jet traffic should be able to avoid you (combination of controller involvement and TCAS) much better then you avoiding it. PCAS while great may just not give you such great warning with a fast jet traffic and you may not see it in time let alone work out what to do. At least the TCAS in the jets (or most of them) give the pilot a pretty good idea what to do to avoid you even if they can't see you. If you fly around the Reno area now hopefully you are following the Reno approach glider procedures and contacting approach etc. so you'll be pretty aware of the sickening amount of fast jet traffic in the area at times. Once you have a transponder you'll be even more aware of hearing and seeing that traffic being routed around you. And nothing too quick is likely to happen with ADS-B to supplant your Mode- C transponder so it remains a good investment for long into the future. I would have kind of hoped the culture of flying around Minden and the Reno area would have impressed how good an idea a transponder was. Personally I wish they were mandatory in areas around Reno (I don't want to lose access to those areas because non-transponder equipped glider is involved in a collision with a passenger jet). We were very lucky the ASG-29 and Hawker collision involved no fatalities. Darryl |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors
If you come to Reno, please get the transponder.
Thanks, Bob K. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors
For the Minden/Air Sailing area...get the transponder. All you have
to do in monitor the Reno approach frequency while you are flying with the transponder on and you will be impressed with how much effort the air traffic controllers put in to diverting traffic away from you. For a mear $500 more, you should have the PDT also. Now you are a full participant in the air traffic control system!!! Guy Acheson "DDS" |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors
Last summer I came tooooo close to a Lear Jet right over Reno at
12,000 feet. We were both talking to approach control, but neither had requested flight following. He lit up my PCAS just as I lit up his TCAS................we exchanged salutations on approach frequency and went our separate ways. Approach never saw a thing! This little scenario could have been much different if both of us didn't have mode C transponder and PCAS/TCAS. You are taking your life in your hands if you fly around Reno without a transponder and PCAS. JJ |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors
On Dec 14, 9:59*pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:
Personally I wish they were mandatory in areas around Reno (I don't want to lose access to those areas because *non-transponder equipped glider is involved in a collision with a passenger jet). We were very lucky the ASG-29 and Hawker collision involved no fatalities. But the ASG-29 was transponder equipped was it not? If transponder use becomes mandatory it still does not mean they will all be turned on, all be squawking mode C, and all reporting the correct altitude. I'm quite sensitive to this at the moment as my airplane has developed a problem that causes the mode C report to sometimes be thousands of feet in error until the transponder or encoder warm up. I take my Zaon MRX with me any time I fly including in other people's aircraft. Once you own one of these you won't want to leave home without it. Still don't have a transponder in the glider so I guess I'll stay away from Reno. Andy |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors
On Dec 15, 7:46*am, Andy wrote:
On Dec 14, 9:59*pm, Darryl Ramm wrote: Personally I wish they were mandatory in areas around Reno (I don't want to lose access to those areas because *non-transponder equipped glider is involved in a collision with a passenger jet). We were very lucky the ASG-29 and Hawker collision involved no fatalities. But the ASG-29 was transponder equipped was it not? If transponder use becomes mandatory it still does not mean they will all be turned on, all be squawking mode C, and all reporting the correct altitude. I'm quite sensitive to this at the moment as my airplane has developed a problem that causes the mode C report to sometimes be thousands of feet in error until the transponder or encoder warm up. I take my Zaon MRX with me any time I fly including in other people's aircraft. *Once you own one of these you won't want to leave home without it. Still don't have a transponder in the glider so I guess I'll stay away from Reno. Andy Well your transponder is a safety item so get it fixed. Worse case replace the encoder, they are not that expensive. I think everybody who flies with an MRX is greatly impressed with them. However if you do not have a transponder you really are not participating in the ATC system. So to the original question, (especially for Reno) get a transponder first, MRX second if you can't afford both. By mandatory I mean mandatory to be turned on and used. The ASG-29 had the transponder turned off, for what can at best can be described as a confused set of reasons. Procedures for contacting approach determine pretty quickly if the transponder is working or not and squawking the correct altitude. Most new transponders will also display the pressure altitude so working out if the encoder is working or not is bit of a non-issue. So what other excuse is left... worries about powering transponders seem a little strained given modern encoder and transponder power power consumption, and alternative battery and solar panel options, especially given the risks involved to the sport (it's the risk to passenger carrying jets the impact on out sport that I care about, not the individual glider pilot). Crossing extremely high traffic corridors near place like Reno, has nothing to do with flying around the boondocks so who cares if you have a transponder at many glider sites. If we have another mid-air, especially with passenger fatalities, I suspect we'll have lots more restrictions than just requiring transponders in high-traffic areas. Darryl |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
transponder | LJ Blodgett | Home Built | 4 | March 19th 07 05:22 PM |
wtb transponder | LJ | Aviation Marketplace | 0 | September 7th 06 05:05 PM |
Which Transponder? | Danl Johnson | Soaring | 10 | October 29th 04 05:54 PM |
WTB Transponder | Roy Bourgeois | Soaring | 0 | July 2nd 04 06:44 PM |
Portable Carbon Monoxide Detectors | Cecil E. Chapman | Piloting | 9 | November 18th 03 10:00 PM |