Frame of reference. Leadsled, Hall et al cherry pick argument to resist fitment. Hall et al outright, Leadsled wants UAT because it is cheaper.
AirServices is rolling out ADS-B sations to get the coverage it wants by 2008. AirServices wants to shut down the en-route SSR by 2019. They want a minimum of 85% fitment to ensure level of service is maintained. In effect airservices wants everyone to fit a new transponder to work with the new system. UAt has benn ruled out outright on cost grounds. It may be cheaper to buy UAT units from the states to fit into aircraft(GA only) however, it is prohibitively expensive to rollout UAT in OZ to get the levels of coverage required AND interface between two dissimilar fleets. Without UAT Heavy cannot see GA and visavis. Outside of range of UAT GA doesn't see anything and no one sees GA. RPT still sees RPT but not GA.
1090ES, heavy can see GA regardless. AirServices sees everyone within coverage of the groundstations. Before you sprout off Lead. The ATA gear is available today and by the time this rolls around most of the hulls will have been replaced so moot point, mate. The problem AirServices faces is convincing GA thatthis is a worthwhile thing to be a part of. Chances are your 25yo truck will be 35yo by the time this is mandated and will still have the same steam gauges it was fitted with from the factory.
The way I see this- either we get this in now with help for fitment OR ten years down the track everyone gets slugged at dollar one (FULL PRICE including fitment) UAT is not going to happen. Who is going to pay for your broadband,Lead? I am certainly not and I am damn sure Geoff will take a dim view of subsidising your jollies. UAT is GA only! It would be far cheaper to give every pilot a NextG card a free broadband account and a program for their PDA or TabletPC to access met data from the mobile broadband network than roll out UAT.
Get out your google and do a search for PocketFMS and see what you can get in Australia right now! This argument of real time wx is a furphy. it suits the antagonists to chose this bit as a feature yet deride the idea of a display that shows the position of other aircraft in your vicinity as dangerous as it drags your attention inside the cockpit
Gentlemen, there is moss growing on you!