Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Non-Airline Forums > Private Flying
Reload this Page >

Mode S: do we need it in GA?

Private Flying LAA/BMAA/BGA/BPA The sheer pleasure of flight.

Mode S: do we need it in GA?

Old 9th May 2015, 21:19
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Gloster,UK
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mode S: do we need it in GA?

I fly a group owned touring plane, and we are having a discussion (about money) and whether we really need to upgrade a perfectly serviceable Mode C to a Mode S.

One or two members have IMC rating, in fact one is progressing to PPL-IR.
The rest of us are VMC only, but like to know where we are.

Having tried to understand the rationale, I am still struggling to see why, or where, we would need Mode S. Apart from local flights in SW England/Wales, the typical routes include Lancashire, Ireland, Channel Islands, France and the near Continent. The furthest we have been is Switzerland. It's 99% UK.

I'd like some input, but please be clear about the difference between opinion and fact.
Thanks
300hrWannaB is offline  
Old 9th May 2015, 21:27
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dublin
Posts: 2,547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No mode S needed in Ireland for VFR. No plans for introduction either.
dublinpilot is offline  
Old 9th May 2015, 23:22
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: On the wireless...
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Opinion: For PRIVATE aircraft Mode S is an infringement of PRIVACY.
Opinion: Mode S should not be necessary for flight within UK uncontrolled airspace.
Opinion: Mode S does not enhance flight safety outside controlled airspace.
Fact: Mode S is not even required in the London CTR.
Opinion: If your aircraft will not fly within airspace requiring Mode S don't bother with it. Apart from the spotters, who is going to be interested in your reg and any other downlinked parameters? Save your money and stick with A+C for ACAS safety.
Talkdownman is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 05:28
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mode S and ADS-B will be a requirement for IFR flight in controlled airspace in a couple of years and so your PPL IR member may be a bit stuck then. I would wait until the requirement is introduced as there are product developments in the pipeline that may be cost effective.
Johnm is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 06:29
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Moray,Scotland,U.K.
Posts: 1,775
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Mode S is very useful on our Jodel DR1050. ATC can see the callsign. I've been called "Are you on our frequency yet?" when returning, as soon as I appear on the radar. Fewer radio requests for position reports.
Maoraigh1 is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 06:50
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Harrogate
Age: 43
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Europe

I'm currently in Prague LKPR on a European trip, most larger TMA's in Europe are adopting a Mode S requirement to be able to fly VFR in their airspace. That's why I find it useful as it gives me the 'go-anywhere' ability without having to trawl information about specific aerodromes requirement for fly in VFR. If you're just flying in the UK then it doesn't matter too much but it doesn't mean that the UK won't start implementing the Mode S requirement in the future.
tomellis6680 is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 07:33
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ansião (PT)
Posts: 2,779
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Adding to previous: some countries require mode S for almost all flying. For one example the Netherlands airspace is all TMZ above 1200'. Not that it matters much, the Netherlands is generally not an attractive destination anyway.

Yet it really depends on where you wish to fly.
Jan Olieslagers is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 09:16
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Midlands
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In the UK TMZ - Transponder mandatory zones - are becoming more common. If you have mode s you can ignore them if you have mode a/c you have to get permission to enter which can be a pain.

I find I get clearance through CAS more easily now I have s over my old a/c - same aircraft.

Mode S is becoming steadily more important in Europe with different states having different rules but it all slowly getting harder to (a) know the differences and (b) fly without s. France is considering changes which may require mode s in class D but this is not a done deal.

In the medium term it is likely that Mode S combined with ADS-B will give considerable advantages for collision avoidance and airspace access. Avoid the Garmin range of units as these will not do Extended Squitter without spending silly money - if at all. Almost all other units will.

Rod1
Rod1 is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 09:22
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Age: 79
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There is a simpler answer.
If you need to fit a new transponder go for Mode S to avoid having to buy another in a few years time, they are gradually becoming required in more places.
If you already have Mode C dont bother upgrading until you actually need it because they are getting cheaper.
The Ancient Geek is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 10:14
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ansião (PT)
Posts: 2,779
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Mode S is becoming steadily more important in Europe
That is certainly the trend we have seen over the last few years. With EASA promising to have more attention for the situation of g/a and recreational flying, couldn't this trend be reversed, or at least slowed down?

@The Ancient Greek: such would be my recommendation, too, if only it were clear where the plane is intended to fly. If a good part of flights are to the continent, it might be more urgent.
Jan Olieslagers is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 12:04
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Talkdownman
Fact: Mode S is not even required in the London CTR.
I respectfully suggest that you are incorrect in your assertion.
UK AIP GEN 1.5 Para 5.3.1(b) & 5.3.2.1 in conjunction with the ANO Schedule 5 paragraph 3(6)(b) would appear to state otherwise
Happy to be convinced otherwise
Bigears is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 13:36
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Copenhagen
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just to clarify for talkdownman (and maybe others)

First, the simple mode-s that is required for private small planes does not really send that much downlink data, besides altitude, squawk and transponder ID (ac reg).
It is not required to send position or any related parameters.

Secondly, the mode-s protocol is much better and contains both better bit encoding and checksums. This leads to less mistakes in decoding, which leads to better TCAS and better ATC awareness, which leads to better safety for everyone.

I would go for mode-s any time...
lasseb is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 15:07
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Delta of Venus
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Mode S is hardly new, its been around for a quarter of a century now! I'm always amazed at the reluctance to accept new technology once it has be proven to be reliable and of benefit. I can only imagine its that old chestnut of cost making people reluctant to use it.
As stated above mode S is basically A+C with automatic aircraft ID as far as ATC are concerned. In the air its function extends to the aircraft collision avoidance system, a very reassuring bit of kit to have I must say, having had it in my professional life. The more aircraft 'S' equipped there are, the better things are, especially when venturing into "no mans land" outside controlled airspace! ADS-B is the system where there is downlinking of more data for tracking purposes (present position, track, ROC/D etc. etc.) Not sure why that's a privacy issue for private flying though.
Private jet is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 15:28
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ansião (PT)
Posts: 2,779
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
amazed at the reluctance to accept new technology
The price ticket is perhaps not an issue to you? That makes it easy to be amazed. But no, it wouldn't, to anyone who can afford a Private jet. There are some private flyers around, though, to whom cost is more than a chestnut. Thanks for your consideration.

[[edit]] adding the cost of having to upgrade comm's to 8,33 in the near future, nobody's waiting for another mandatory avionics upgrade.

Last edited by Jan Olieslagers; 10th May 2015 at 19:24.
Jan Olieslagers is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 15:59
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: On the wireless...
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bigears
UK AIP GEN 1.5 Para 5.3.1(b) & 5.3.2.1 in conjunction with the ANO Schedule 5 paragraph 3(6)(b) would appear to state otherwise
5.3.2.1 refers only to the London TMA.

TMZ exceptions are detailed in GEN1.5 paragraph 5.3.4, AD-2 EGLD, AD-2 EGTF, AD-2 EGLM, AD-2 EGWU and for Brooklands see EGLL AD 2.22 paragraph 8.

eg. AD-2 EGLD:

Mode S Transponders:
(i) The carriage of a Mode S Transponder within the LFA is encouraged, however there is currently no requirement for aircraft operating in the Denham LFA to comply with the requirements of the London CTR Mode S Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ).
Talkdownman is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 19:08
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Talkdownman,

I apologise for my mistake ref 5.3.2.1.

If I may be so bold, I would think that your original statement
'Fact: Mode S is not even required in the London CTR' should have read
'Fact: Mode S is not even required in some portions of the London CTR', as that is more factually correct.

Thanks for the references, which were an education for me
Bigears is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 20:20
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: On the wireless...
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Conceded. Shake on that.
Talkdownman is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 21:31
  #18 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Gloster,UK
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the inputs so far, please keep them coming.

Of prime concern is the cost of the upgrade, considering that the Mode C is working just fine. The other consideration is that we are going to change the radio (yes we still have one) to an all singing & dancing GPS type navcom on 8.33 separation. That's a bit of a sting.
Doing the Mode S at the same time seems logical, if money were no object. However, the money pits are not bottomless, and the old girl has some other repair/maintenance priorities to be addressed.
All I'm trying to do is to establish the priority ranking of a Mode S.

-Netherlands are now restricted to Dambuster style bombing raids at low level (watch for the pylons!)
-SOME London TMA remains accessible, ie to nominated airfields on the margins.
-The creep of EASA regulations will likely lead to its expectation. Charge the GA flyer, yet benefits accrue to the other users ie ATC and jets.

My query remains one of restrictions and access.
300hrWannaB is offline  
Old 10th May 2015, 22:20
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Leeds
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When is the requirement for ADSB likely to come in? That wil be yet another expense, having recently upgraded my unreliable Narco mode C to a Garmin mode S (at the suggestion of my engineer).
A le Ron is offline  
Old 11th May 2015, 02:47
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Wildest Surrey
Age: 75
Posts: 10,799
Received 90 Likes on 63 Posts
Answer to original question:
No.
chevvron is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.