We have a problem in the UK right now.
There are...
- FLARM & PowerFLARM (about 1800 systems in use)
- PilotAware (1500-2000 systems in use)
- Various ADS-B / Mode-S based systems, one of which (about 50 units) is about to be trialled by FASVIG, and this of course co-ordinates with TCAS in airliners, which is universal in large aeroplanes.
The fundamental problem is that these three protocols are, largely incompatible with each other. This is really not helpful.
This was discussed at the RAeS light aviation conference on Monday, and I must admit I was rather shocked at the level of anger between at least two of the delegates about the lack of co-ordination between these teams and systems. There was some hope by the end of the day that the three might actually sit down, perhaps under the RAeS umbrella, and try and work towards an end point of a single universally agreed, granddaughter system that will give everybody a single system they can buy into.
All of these systems are good, with varying strengths and weaknesses - but having three basic systems is a silly position to be in.
G