Originally Posted by
pba_target
Cats 5 - appreciate the benefit that FLARM brings to the glider community in terms of not false alarming when thermalling. However, the continuing refusal of the glider community to fit transponders does give the rest of us a real problem.
Frankly, modern gliders significantly out perform legacy bits of kit. Having the performance to add a little bit of weight (Trig make transponders marketed as light enough for paragliders for crying out loud!) means, imho, the glider community should step up to the plate and add the same conspicuity measures the rest of the world are using, so we can see them and avoid them, and ATC can reliably monitor them using SSR. Doing so on a voluntary basis will prevent the need for the CAA to mandate their carriage.
Imho though the old argument of weight/power no longer holds water due to a combination of performance of gliders and size/weight of modern transponders (and heaven forbid, two way radios....)
I have pointed out why many gliders don't fit transponders - power draw. Weight is not the issue in most gliders being used for XC (loading with water is common in gliders where this can be done), power most certainly is especially since some XC flights can be 5 or more hours. If fitting a transponder was as cheap as changing to 833 radios was, and they took as little power, more people would do so though for some of us it would still be very expensive as the panel is small and some gliders would need to have a new panel with some of the other instruments changed.
The few people who have brought brand spanking new gliders have had transponders fitted, but then what's £2k when you are spending well over £100k?
A low power transponder was promised (can't remember who by) but has yet to appear. Also most of us are not all flying the latest and greatest - I know someone doing great flights in a glider built in 1968. He has recorded flights taking over 7 hours this year as have several people from other clubs. Fitting any sort of transponder may well cost him more than his whole glider is worth. Remember that by a large we fly the best, most expensive glider we can afford.