“I wonder what percentage of LAA types are unable to fit a transponder (because of weight or power) and what percentage are unwilling because of cost?”
About 50% of the LAA fleet has a radio. 20% are micros, so almost certainly no transponder. I would guess 25% of the LAA Fleet have transponders. The BMAA would be probably 5%. The micros effectively cannot fit one (there are a few exceptions), the next largest group are the vintage enthusiasts. Almost all are constrained by power, space and weight. The aircraft values range from £1500 up to £100,000 but at the lower end you are not going to fit £2k of kit to a £2000 aircraft even if it is technically possible.
“In short I would suggest the 10,000 rule is largely irrelevant to GA.”
I and 90% of the gliding community find the 10,000 foot limit a pain. 12000 would have been better.
“How many aircraft capable of flying above 100 knots indicated are incapable of fitting a transponder for reasons other than cost or desire?”
Many 1000’s could not fit one. 200kn would be another mater. CAA were convinced of this after a very rigorous investigation.
FLARM would be great, but the CAA will not back it (not compatible with TCAS plus many other reasons).
Most of the issues raised above regarding transponder mandatory altitudes etc have been thrashed out in detail over the last three years. The decisions have been made in the last few months and it is not going to be revisited for many years.
I see very little support for mandatory training to improve lookout, but lots of attempts to keep the majority of aircraft out of the spamcan drivers way. Do you all think you have nothing to learn?
Rod1
(I was one of the LAA team involved in the interoperability consultations (Mode S))