Geoff, I in now way indicated that we should not implement something like this.
As Mandy Temple pointed out she and Peter are on their way to France and will be flying with a FLARM fitted. When they get back I'll have a chat with them and I'll read up on the links that you and Mike have provided. I will be attending the GFA AGM and will attend the board meetings as the SAGA delegate. I'll hopefully be able to discuss this issue at these meetings. Regards Sean ---- Geoff Kidd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I suggest that you go to > http://www.gliderforum.com/thread-view.asp?threadid=1780&posts=21 and have a > look at the comments of those that use it. > > While it is only a tiny sample, it is very positive. > > I suggest that to not implement a system because it will encourage bad > scanning habits and stop pilots looking out of the cockpit, is an incorrect > argument. We will never have a situation where all aircraft are equipped, so > a good lookout will always be essential. > > On the other hand an additional warning will be invaluable ... and > lifesaving. > > We have Aussies competing in Europe at the moment. I wonder what they will > say about Flarm when they get back? > > Regards > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "jorgie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 8:17 AM > Subject: Re: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM > > > >I too want to be safe, however, I would be somewhat concerned if we just > >decided to implement something like this without somebody providing some > >scientific results of it's use. > > > > The issues we may have is with the large number of new "toys" that we are > > finding in the cockpits of gliders. A lot of which are taking the pilots > > attention from outside of the aircraft to the inside. > > > > In fact it's not uncommon to find some new pilots who have never know any > > different and think that you "need" all of this technology to fly long > > distances. > > > > Part of the problem has got to be pilots not looking out of the cockpit, > > the other part has got to be how difficult it is to see other gliders, esp > > head on. The third part is simply that we can do all things at once and > > sometimes you will simply never see the other aircraft in which case > > something along these lines would indeed save lives. > > > > Bernard Eckey has just ordered some new tips for his 25 which he has asked > > to high intensity leds (I believe) to be fitted to see if that improves > > the ability of other pilots to see his aircraft. Bernard, perhaps you > > could enlighten us to exactly what you've done. > > > > I'd be interested if somebody can point me towards some information > > regarding these FLARMs. > > > > Regards > > > > Sean > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---- Geoff Kidd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Mike > >> > > > >> > > If this Flarm system or something better (and immediately available) is > > not > >> > > picked up and implemented this year as the system of choice for OZ, then > > the > >> > > Pilots, Owners and the umbrella organization all need to have a good hard > >> > > look at themselves. > >> > > > >> > > As previously mentioned by others in this Forum, the key is that all/most > >> > > Sailplanes need to be fitted for it to be effective. > >> > > > >> > > Given the reports back from Europe, the key issues for us are simply: > >> > > > >> > > a Is this the best available system? > >> > > b Is something better on the horizon that is soon to supersede it? > >> > > c Is Flarm the defacto standard in Europe? > >> > > d What is the best way to implement it here? > >> > > > >> > > All of the above seems to be an appropriate role for the GFA to take, > >> > > action, publicise and provide the necessary leadership in this key area. > > But > >> > > a long evaluation and decision making time is not warranted and in my view > >> > > it would be a travesty if this opportunity is wasted or someone here > > thinks > >> > > they should now try from somewhere near scratch to come up with a better > >> > > Aussie mousetrap. > >> > > > >> > > If the Swiss Rescue Helicopters have evaluated it as being also the best > > for > >> > > them, then it might even be a no-brainer for us. > >> > > > >> > > Look at what the basic pilots from Europe have said on the other thread > > and > >> > > all of us should make up our minds. > >> > > > >> > > I wonder what other members of this Forum, more experienced than me, have > > to > >> > > say on this. > >> > > > >> > > Regards & thanks for your reply > >> > > > >> > > Geoff > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > ----- Original Message ----- > >> > > From: "Mike Borgelt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> > > To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring inAustralia." > >> > > <[email protected]> > >> > > Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 4:08 PM > >> > > Subject: Re: Fw: [Aus-soaring] FLARM > >> > > > >> > > > >> > >> At 01:56 PM 4/07/05 +1000, you wrote: > >> > >>> > >> > >>>>I have initiated and am in the midst of a thread on The Glider Forum > >> > >>>>where > >> > >>>> European pilots speak of Flarm in glowing terms ... both in the > >> > >>>> Mountains > >> > >>>> and the Flatlands. > >> > >>>> > >> > >>>> It appears that the IGC has not banned its use and 2 pilots report good > >> > >>>> practical results with Flarm when used in contests. > >> > >> > >> > >> Technically, under the FAI rules it was prohibited under the rule that > >> > >> prevented data interchange. This was pointed out in an article in > >> > >> Aerokurier magazine. Common sense has prevailed according to John Roake's > >> > >> latest column on gldingmagazine.com > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>>> > >> > >>>> Now we have what appears to be a proven and popular system that is > >> > >>>> reasonably economical for Cost and Power. > >> > >> > >> > >> 52mA and A$1000 approximately per aircraft. > >> > >>>> > >> > >>>> Given that mid-airs are a/the major safety issue for our sport, what > >>>> are > >> > >>>> we waiting for? > >> > >>>> > >> > >>>> Is it a fact that the spectrum is available or not? > >> > >> > >> > >> Of course it is. Every wireless device attached to your PC uses it as > >> well > >> > >> as your microwave oven. > >> > >> > >> > >>>> > >> > >>>> If it is, the GFA should consider lobbying/acting to ensure that the > >> > >>>> system is picked up for OZ and EVERY owner should be encouraged or > >> > >>>> incentivised to install ASAP. > >> > >> > >> > >> Given the general acknowledgement that we have a mid air problem in > >> > >> gliding > >> > >> you would think this would already be being done wouldn't you? Don't hold > >> > >> your breath. > >> > >> > >> > >> Mike > >> > >> Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments > >> > >> phone Int'l + 61 746 355784 > >> > >> fax Int'l + 61 746 358796 > >> > >> cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784 > >> > >> Int'l + 61 429 355784 > >> > >> email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > >> website: www.borgeltinstruments.com > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> > >> Aus-soaring mailing list > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> To check or change subscription details, visit: > >> > >> http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > >> > > > >> > > _______________________________________________ > >> > > Aus-soaring mailing list > >> > > [email protected] > >> > > To check or change subscription details, visit: > >> > > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > Aus-soaring mailing list > > [email protected] > > To check or change subscription details, visit: > > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [email protected] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
