Cheap ADS-B for VFR ops....
 

I would be interested to know why the discrimination? That is what it is.... I build my own aircraft and it is ok, but not in my Cessna? There needs to be some serious discussion on how these decisions are made and exactly who is making these decisions, for what reasons and the related safety case must be made available to so justify!

The newer ADSB equipment is improving and causing competition that pushes down prices.

The Stratus ESG Transponder costs $3750, comes with an inbuilt GPS and should be easier to install upgrades as it is the same dimensions at a KT76. Even with en Engineering Order and LAME installation should cost about $5k all up. Can't imagine even un-certified equipment would be much cheaper.

The https://www.pacificavionics.com.au/p...sg-transponder

Folks,
Stand by for the Minister's tame advisory body to recommend that ADS-B OUT be made mandatory for all VFR, after all "Safety Is Our First Priority", and something simply must be done about the terrible collision risk problem in Australian airspace.

It cannot be denied that aircraft, particularly VFR aircraft, frequently come within several miles of each other.
Tootle pip!!

The reality is that Mode S and ADSB transponders have fallen to about the same price as Mode C transponders were. I don't think Mode C transponders can be installed anymore. No real downside for ADSB now and eventually it will become ubiquitous.

That is no reason to make it mandatory in Australia, and put one more nail in the coffin of what little is left of GA in Australia.

Made mandatory on the basis of recommendations made by those who will never bear the expense, based on no risk management demonstrated justification, much less cost/benefit justification, but "because we can". Or, now it is "reportedly ubiquitous".

After all, what is another $5,000-$10,000 when Safety Is Our First Priority.

Tootle pip!!

PS: Based on two recent alleged "loss of separation" incidents (an interesting concept in Class G, VFR/VMC) with at least one ADS-B IN equipped aircraft, I think we have seen a portent of the future, a mid-air in the circuit, because one of more pilots were looking at their ADS-B IN, instead of "looking out the window".

Leaddie, that future is here now, I call it "device fixation" and I see it most times I do a flight review. Pilots, it seems, mostly private pilots, are addicted to their devices so much that they look at them more often than they look outside. Given the current fixation with devices in the general population, I guess it is not that surprising but it is a bit of a worry.

I can see benefits for SAR with ADBS because the GPS history will be sent to a central repository. Should make finding lost planes a lot easier and more reliable.

Also, ADSB receivers are becoming so cheap everyone can have a form of TCAS.

The old Narco Mode C transponder in my plane has failed and needs to be replaced and i don't think going to ADSB will cost anything extra.

It's a pity the mobile 5G network wasn't available a few years ago. Could have broadcast ADSB packets on the 5G network and Airservices wouldn't have needed to run base stations.

You obviously don't fly anywhere outside Melbourne if you think that 4G coverage would be a good substitute for ADSB or radar.

I did say 5G.

I use the Telstra mobile network and have always had good (not perfect) 4G coverage from the south of Tasmania to the north of NSW and across to Adelaide at VFR levels. 5G will be a game changer and fantastic for GA.

...and the Chinese if we are not careful. Perhaps if they offer separation as an add-on service we wouldn't think so harshly of their wire-tapping efforts.

5G will be massive. Everything that moves or stays still will be connected.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_things

this discussion seems to have gone off the rails a bit.... In the first post I said:

This is not the only area where CASA set one set of rules for one part of the industry and another set for others. To me there is no justification where the aircraft are basically the same.

Seems to me that the Sports folk have a set of rules, the Warbirds another and us folk in GA are left yet another set. Why is this so?