I have just returned to this thread as my MP has sent me a copy of a letter he received form the CAA.
I see there is some criticism of my letter. Not sure which bit was being objected to but let me make some points
Cost... £4700 + VAT was what was charged by Extra for fitting a Mode S on a new Extra. Maybe it will reduce but that's an actual number at present. I used it.
The other point was that I could not see any point is having a mode S transponder in a PFA type unless the aircraft has radio and is talking to someone. If I'm buzzing around in uncontrolled airspace in East Anglia with radio off and Mode S on what are the ground stations going to do? Probably use the software to remove my trace from the screen unless I get near controlled airspace? This is what I meant by filtering my signal out.
Perhaps someone can tell me how a mode S transponder will then make me any safer? They cannot contact me to warn of another aircraft civil or military.
I would welcome a simple explanation suitable for a non technical MP who knows little about GA or aviation in general. So far nothing I have seen explains things in simple terms. We need this so that MPs can make a judgement between the words from the CAA and opposing words from the PFA etc.
At present I think they see a lot of jargon they don't understand and their response is to ask the experts (the CAA!). The CAA point to their consultation exercise and say how fair it all is and then cloak it in the statement "well you want to make UK aviation safer don't you?".
MPs can only challenge this if they have clarity. Either about how the working of Mode S is being misrepresented or evidence that the CAA have not consulted GA properly.
The reply from the CAA (Sir Roy McNulty, Chairman of the CAA) says they have performed a proper consultation of GA bodies.
I wonder why the PFA felt it necessary to write a 38 page letter starting with the comment that they had not been consulted properly.
I intend to write back to my MP regarding the lack of proper consultation. If Russle would like to create a paragraph or two that uses no jargon to explain why Mode S is not a solution to the problem then I would be delighted to include it.
Lets remember what we are trying to achieve.