The wx radar is probably of limited utility, but there are other data sources that are available now (free or given $$$) that could be very useful.
Ever seen the high resolution sat images that show individual cumulus clouds and cloud streets? They could be quite handy to be sent to gliders in real-time. The rule prohibiting other communication between ground and aircraft is in part to prevent what could be effective "remote control" or expert advice being given by someone on the ground. I believe there are strict rules in Formula 1 car racing to a similar effect --- in that domain it is known that computers in the pits could schedule braking etc more efficiently than the driver. Note that in the 90s pit to car transmissions were allowed but this has been changed. I wonder how they police it? Getting a met briefing over the radio is presumably considered ok since all competitors have access to the same information. If other ground to air communication is allowed, there's nothing stopping a sufficiently funded team from having a fleet of sniffer aircraft flying along the task and relaying conditions and even thermal locations to a competitor via the ground. Or from driving a truck with a LIDAR around the task taking soundings.. etc etc. As Matthew Gage correctly suggests, policing the rules is another matter. Mobile phones are so ubiquitous (and easily hidden!) these days, I find it hard to believe that competition scrutineers can effectively prevent air-ground comms. On Thu, 2008-01-10 at 10:33 +0900, Ben Jones wrote: > Umm, > > How different is viewing the wx radar in flight on a PDA too receiving > a inflight met brief update over the radio from flight service....... > Same info just in a pretty picture. > > Ben > > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
