Re Flarm, and batteries for gliders
robin wrote:
"ChrisN has lots of experience of FLARM, but the CAA are quite clear that currently it is illegal to use it in the UK - apparently it upsets people who have radio-controlled garage doors, or something!!!"
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Sorry, not quite accurate. I have a Flarm, but have not yet used it in the air – a job for this season, assuming CAA approves it. I have, however, read lots about it, including results of trials in 2007 at Portmoak and elsewhere. My impression is still that it does more good than harm, but only of course between Flarm-equipped aerial conveyances, which is likely in the UK only to be some gliders, some tugs, and maybe some of various other categories at the light GA end.
Nothing would prevent other GA from getting them too, especially those who complain that they hate gliders/can’t see us/it’s our fault we can’t fit transponders (even for those gliders where it is not our fault, of which there are many) etc. – but I’m not holding my breath.
Although Flarm uses radio-controlled garage door frequency, I have been told it is too low powered to cause a problem. No doubt that is part of what CAA were/are looking at.
CAA were saying it had no approval YET for UK use, but the BGA told me, in effect, watch this space; it was likely to get either approval or at least not actively disapproved early this year.
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I shall be interested to see if the Li battery mentioned by somebody comes about with aviation “approval”. I’d like the extra juice, but don’t think I would dare use them unless the “approval”/formal certification is real. (Would chancing it without such approval endanger insurance cover in the event of a fire or other incident/accident? Don’t bother answering here – the only answer I would believe would be from my insurer and only then if in writing.)
Chris N