On 13/10/04 11:18 AM, "David Conway" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> CASA instrument 316/98 requires the carriage of a transponder in Class E > airspace if the aircraft has an engine driven electrical system capable of > continuously powering it. > The following is sort-of humorous. Sort of. If I have a transponder and an engine-driven electrical system capable of powering it, but happen to have the engine off - does that mean I can turn the transponder off too? Or do I have to go soaring in class E with the engine idling? This isn't theoretical. My motor glider has a transponder, but I'm not yet sure what its power consumption profile is like. And I've got an engine that won't start unless the battery can turn the engine over and unfold the blades for several seconds prior to start, so its really bad karma to run the battery flat. Hmmm. I just thought of another interpretation - sure, I'm *carrying* it, but where does it say I have to turn it on? :) Saying 'its implicit' seems really bad to me, in a set of regulations that seem to already require legal training to understand 'em. I appreciate (and I do presume) the pragmatic answer - leave the thing off if the engine is off. But in respect of the whole airspace thing and gliders (in respect of the whole airspace thing entirely, really), the phrase 'dogs breakfast' keeps returning, inexorably, to the top of my mind. Simon _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
