Hello!
Some fundamental misconceptions there.
Indeed.
Your mental model of airspace seems incorrect.
Are you suggesting that I better give my ATPL and instuctor ratings back?
Airways are Class A, big airports are Class A
Not in my part of the world. And since you wrote in one of your posts that you are flying in Germany too, you may find it useful to familiarise yourself wilth the airspace structure here (
Die Luftraumstruktur in Deutschland). We have many airways that go through class E airspace and where "see and avoid" is crucial because (for some reason unknown and uncomprehensible to me), transponders are not mandatory equipment for all aircraft, and therefore air traffic control is unable to provide separation and traffic information.
Same thing for your TA/RA story. This has (as far as I can see) nothing to do with GPS and everything to do with "transponder" - it's a bit further down the stack - and you should be happy that your three TA/RA events were between aircraft equiped with such!
I am happy about it.
Class F is open to VFR pilots. No clearance required. So, if you had TA/RA events in Class F, this is a sign that two sets of "see and avoids" failed (to some extent). Again, unless you show me otherwise, GPS is irrelevant.
My TCAS events all took place within the traffic patterns of aerodromes with class F airspace and mixed VFR/IFR traffic (like the one here:
http://www.edty.de/en/pilot_informat...edty191bam.pdf ) which is marked clearly both on the approach plates and on the VFR charts.
They were caused by aroplanes flying right through these traffic patterns at low level. Had these pilots used GPS, then they might have been aware of the proximity of an aerdrome and would have stayed clear of the traffic pattern. Had these guys looked outside for traffic, then they could have avoided to fly on collision courses with us.
Also irrelevant that lo-cost airlines flies in Class F airspace. This might be a justification for reclassification of the airspace into Class D, but that is a separate discussion.
I don't think this is a separate discussion. I think that this will be one of the consequences of people not using the most adequate navigation aids and becoming a threat to others in the process. For every TCAS event we have to file a report with the authority. Three in my case, but I do not often operate in and out of uncontrolled airfields commercially. Others do it a dozen times every day and they file their daily report. Sooner or later, airspace will become even more regulated than it is now and the last remining spots of "open FIR" will be gone. Not that I care much, because I don't fly for recreation a lot, but I still would consider it a loss for all of us. An unnecessary one.
Greetings, Max