Flying Binghi
Hmmm... sounds to me some want Oz VFR pilots to subsidise the continued incompetence of a handfull of IFR drivers who could'nt be bothered looking out the window.
Hmmm…. Don’t quite understand the IFR vs VFR “subsidy” comment – perhaps you might explain further? I don’t know whether you fly IFR or VFR, but I find it boring looking out the window in (solid) cloud, unless it goes black, which always get my attention.
As it stands, the pilot of the VFR aircraft involved was either dumb, stupid or both, and broke down the separation standards between VFR and IFR by:
(1) Failing to monitor Area Frequency or:
(2) Monitored but did not respond to Centre when called, and:
(3) Descended through cloud.
The location is critical too – close to Sydney CTR with converging or diverging traffic (both VFR and IFR) and VFR aircraft descending to avoid the steps - VFR pilots need to monitor frequency very closely.
The Avidyne TCAD system is not cheap, but it adds another layer of traffic awareness that might save your skin when all else fails - last Sunday it’s value was priceless.