Re FLARM, Mode S and ADS-B
Bookworm on 26.2.08 quoted me: “Quote: Nothing would prevent other GA from getting them [Flarm] too . . . “ and wrote “ . . . So I have to carry a completely separate bit of kit, displaying on a separate screen, to detect gliders... And then next year, the microlight community will decide they want to use a different technology with different standards and I have to go and buy/fit another piece of kit...”
BW, there is a great difference between “ nothing would prevent” and “ have to”, as I’m sure you must be aware.
I have better things to do than spend time on a fruitless dialogue. If, however, anyone seriously wishes to discuss the issues based on facts as far as they can be determined, logic rather than emotion, and realistic possibilities of outcomes, I might be prepared to spend some further time on the subject.
For what it’s worth, the present position that I have reached is that mode S. has its place, but mandating it across all aircraft in the UK is not on. FLARM and ADS-B also have their place at present in some parts of the world, and I believe that could include the UK today as far as FLARM is concerned. It may be that at some future point FLARM could be replaced by ADS-B, but that would require further development of ADS-B, taking on board the utility that FLARM already has, and a price, package, and weight combination that makes it feasible. I suspect that even then, there would be issues that it simply is not practical to fitted into certain aerial conveyances. Mandating any universal requirement for additional instruments would either result in grounding some aircraft, or there would have to be exemptions if they were able to continue flying. That is a matter of hard, practical fact. I am not totally opposed to mode S; I have already taken some steps to be able to fit one into my glider, and if there is a reasonable technical solution I might well obtain one because of the particular areas in which I fly, and the particular things which I wish to do myself. I do not regard the technical and price package available at the moment as acceptable or justifiable, but if and when that changes, I would probably go for it.
I don’t mind explaining the reasons for my present position, if anybody is interested and wants to have a sensible dialogue.
Chris N.