collision avoidance for aircraft working in pairs

[west_oz]

G'day,

I have read many threads discussing PCAS and TCAS and not found an answer to my question so i apologise for raising what seems to be a re-curring theme. Does anyone know if it is possible to get something like the ZAON XRX (PCAS) that works in remote areas- eg- areas where aircraft transponders are not being interrogated by air traffic control? Or is this situation basically dealt with by TCAS systems only?

I am not a pilot, so please forgive me if my understanding of this technology is a little off.

My work involves the use of a helicopter and small fixed wing aircraft operating in reasonably close proximity. The reason i thought there may be something to suit my needs is that the technology i require only needs to be compatible between the two aircraft i am using, and nothing else.

any assistance would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

[BizJetJock]

Personally in that scenario I would use the radio and talk to each other. Cheap and reliable!:ok:

[werbil]

There is a device called FLARM which is used by gliders. The Gliding Federation of Australia has a link to Swift Avionics - Instruments for Sailplanes, Ultralights and Hang Gliding | Flarm, OzFlarm, Altair (http://www.swiftavionics.com.au/) who sell flarm units. They should be able to tell whether they would work in your application.

BizJetJock - I think they are trying to avoid AO-2008-010 (http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2008/aair/ao-2008-010.aspx) - and if you read the report they were using radios.