At 10:57 AM 7/07/05 +0930, you wrote:
> Hi Mike It seems to me that there are two options available to us.
>Option 1 is to install Flarm. The problem is that it only works when we
>equip every aircraft with this system. In the absence of corresponding
>regulations this will (unfortunately) remain a nice dream.
FLARM will work nicely around any given gliding site if a substantial
number of the local gliders are equipped. 100% of all gliders isn't
necessary. There will be transient power planes that aren't equipped
anyway. Given the takeup in Europe I'd expect that once a reasonable size
demo was in action there would be a fairly rapid takeup.
The English version of the FLARM site says 450 units installed. The German
version says there were 450 units in operation in summer 2004. In Spring
2005 there are 2000. I'd say the European glider pilots are pretty well
convinced about it.
Option 2 is
>to fit strobe lights. Granted, it might not be quite as effective under
>all conditions but it is a huge improvement on the current situation.
Dick Johnson did some testing on strobes a few years ago. It was written up
in Soaring magazine. They were only effective under a limited range of
light conditions if the strobe was low enough power drain for a glider and
you also probably see only about 50% of the sphere when cruising and you
have to be looking in the right direction at the time. I'd call this a
great opportunity for false negatives.
The
>light intensity of a 20 watt flashlight needs to be seen to be believed.
Have you used one in bright sunlight in Australia, done any testing at say
1 km? Things that look amazing indoors under subdued light may be near
invisible outside.
>An additional 7Ah battery will be more than enough to power the new
>generation LED strobe lights even for long flights.
Given the problems glider pilots have generally with batteries and power
systems adding a high power drain to the glider isn't a really good idea.
This has been the reason given in the past as to why gliders cannot fit
transponders and should not be forced to.
So tell us exactly what one of these things draws in current from a 12 volt
battery. Do you need more than one to get coverage?
What exactly is the viewing angle?
What does it cost? Don't forget to add the battery and extra charger to that.
Quite a number of gliders already have a weight of non lifting parts
problem with heavy pilots. An additional 7 Ah battery may not be an option
although the new lithium batteries can be a solution to battery weight
problems but are relatively expensive, require special chargers and some
care else gliding clubs will be burning down.
Aircraft with solar
>panels might not even need an additional battery. In conclusion, fitting
>strobe lights makes you by far more visible
We can judge that when you answer the questions above and you've done some
real world testing.
3M mirror tape is lots cheaper and as the sun intensity increases so do the
reflections. Same limitations as strobes otherwise.
> and hence safer. Fitting
>Flarm does nothing (unless all of us dig deep and install them).
FLARM is likely as effective as strobes with only about 70% of gliders
fitted. You'll get warning of about half the traffic which is about your
field of view from the cockpit. Not only that, you don't have the limits
imposed by your scan time.
Lights may be most effective in the head on case flying close to mountain
sides. I can see that in the Alps this is a real hazard.
Mike
Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments
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