Originally Posted by
mikehallam
Small a/c per se may not be much of a threat, but they do produce RADAR traces which may make it harder with lots of unknowns on screen to detect a real threat sized airborne device.
Could be clearer skies simplify the look out for rogue planes ?
mike.
There was a suggestion a while ago that air defence would be provided using UAV's. These don't have a see-and-be-seen capability and therefore rely either on segregation (as per how trials are currently undertaken in Wales), radar contro (which requires all aircraft to be under radar control) or using interoperability aids - e.g. transponders.
Problem is that some light aircraft, microlights and gliders don't carry transponders or even radios. Therefore the easiest solution, for those with a command and control perspective, is to ground them and thereby provide instant segregation. Problem solved.