So, it looks as though SSD and myself are the only 2 aviators that enjoy a Sunday afternoon bimble, for which the cost of entry from 2008 will be £2000 for a piece of kit that is of no use to me. Those of you who believe in a £500 transponder probably believe in WMD and that Tony Blair is the patron saint of students. The reality is that it will reduce the number of private owners and their style of flying quite significantly. I don't buy the reduction in risk either. How many GA/airliner mid-air accidents have there been in the UK? The real danger is the low-level RAF aircraft whose TCAS programme is delayed, so by the same token they should be restricted to their designated low-level areas until it is up and running.
I'm quite happy to stick to Fenland, Old Buckenham, Wellesbourne etc for my £120 cup of coffee and I'm quite happy to fly in uncontrolled airspace so that Air Ruritania Tu-154s don't bang in to me. I'm not in favour of Mode S .