There was a carrot in the form of subsidising equipage to seed manufacture of the then unavailable certified equipment. The money was to come from being able to divert funds from refurbishing SSR heads along the J curve. The money was smoke and mirrors (I was on the wrong side of that argument) History says the window closed with refurbing going ahead. Regardless, I think Leadsled would be closer to the truth but I reckon any spare money would have gone as a dividend back to the sole shareholder.
So, here we are again. 12 years and 2018 is weeks away. Watching this latest argument unfold with interest. Plazbot, as always, is on the money with the simplest and most direct observation from the
class G thread.....
In all seriousness, full surveillance down to approaches country wide with E airspace is an extremely safe system.
How we get there with equipage and training is the discussion.