Another discussion point is that some GA type airfields have installed it to help their AFISO/Radio operators prevent collisions, ensure noise abatement is complied with etc...can open, worms everywhere - does that mean that non-ATCO, non radar trained Radio op/AFISO then has a duty of care to prevent collisions??? Discuss...its an absolute minefield
This month's Today's Pilot mag states that the original reason for this system being designed following a mid-air between a helicopter and a microlight near Elstree, ans that had the Air Traffic Controller (by which I think they mean FISO), at Elstree has the SBS1 system they could have prevented the collision.
This is wrong on two points :
1. The microlight (any maybe the helicopter), wouldn't have had Mode S at the time of the accident and therefore wouldn't have shown up on the kit.
2. FISOs aren't taught, and are probably too busy, to interpret this pseudo-radar data.
Which GA airfields have installed this kit? Unless SRG provide guidelines as to its use IMHO it could only be used to provide 'out of interest' information to staff and not to provide any method of enabling advice to be provided to pilots. Additionally the vast majority of GA aircraft are not presently ModeS equipped and therefore won't display on the system.
Interestingly it does say that the CAA have purchased units for their 'analysis'.