At the recent meeting with the CAA at PFA HQ this was not mentioned. The CAA presentation is at;
http://www.pfa.org.uk/
The important point is that if you do not have to have a Transponder today, you will not need one until at least March 2012.
I wrote a summary of the meeting;
Mode S Summary of meeting with CAA 17th Nov 07
Originally the CAA intended to force all flying machines to install Mode S. This approach has been abandoned by the CAA, and the following is the future:
Phase 1
The present rules on the carriage of transponders will continue to apply only to;
Public transport flights
Flights at and above FL100
IFR flights in CAS below FL100
Flights in airspace notified in the UK AIP (London only at this time)
The above group were required to carry Mode A/C and now need Mode S Elementary Surveillance from 31st March 08. A 4 year transition period applies, taking the date to March 2012.
This summarizes the situation today and is a done deal.
Phase 2
This phase is about to enter consultation and is not a done deal. NONE of the following will come in before March 2012, if at all.
Mode S will be required for;
Aircraft making VFR flights within controlled airspace below FL100
Powered aircraft making international flights
Flights within any new “Transponder Mandatory Zones” TMZs, which may be created.
If we take each point in turn;
VFR flights within controlled airspace;
This was clarified as not mandatory. Each ATC unit will be able to clear non Mode S aircraft through subject to workload and aircraft based at strips will be able to negotiate a written exception.
Powered aircraft making international flights;
This is an Annex 6 ICAO convention requirement. The CAA part of this will not become mandatory, if at all, until March 2012. The CAA is also prepared to file exemptions in collaboration with other states. If, as seems likely, the French except large swathes of GA, then we will be able to go there and they will be able to visit us without Mode S. There is a meeting in December on this and the PFA will get an update, which I will post on this thread.
Flights within any new “Transponder Mandatory Zones” TMZs, which may be created;
This will be laid out in the consultation, but again you will not have to comply until March 2012. Applying for a TMZ will follow the existing airspace change procedure.
To sum up the CAA position -
It will certainly be possible to do serious touring (VFR) post March 08 without Mode S. Post March 2012, it depends on the outcome of the meeting in December and the Consultation process on Phase 2
Phase 3 (you are not going to like this)
ADS-B may well form part of a future phase 3. No timeframe, and remember, if you get a Mode S unit with “extended Squatter” (no idea of spelling) you may be OK. You will need an approved GPS to be wired in to your Transponder.
Rod1