Hi Mike,
Thanks for that information. Very clear and logical.
Anthony Smith's earlier forecast on this site, seems to me to have a ring of
truth, validity, and inevitability about it .... sigh!
And all this, despite the great statistical work that was done on the subject
by Dr Bob Hall (ex Airspace Officer and ex GFA President), quite a few years
ago now. I suspect that the scenarios that he used then have barely changed,
and therefore his findings are still valid today - but of course swept under
the carpet, and totally ignored by the current crop of bureaucrats, if they are
even aware of the study.
Can someone persuade Bob to comment here, and maybe give us an update on what
has changed. Politically of course, because this is the only major area that
can be manipulated, and IS being best manipulated by organisations that have
the funds and the know-how on how to do it. When it comes to matters aviation,
and in particular gliding, do not doubt the ignorance of our political masters,
and as so graphically illustrated, time after time - the media, and the general
public . I have advocated for years now, that the GFA needs to address the
political issue, and further that it will require a huge input of AVAILABLE
funds. However, in fact (in ABSOLUTE terms), the dollars required by the GFA
for this purpose is quite minuscule. However this is a mostly unrelated issue,
albeit far more important, and might prove to be a new discussion thread!
For the gliding fraternity, Flarm has been a great boon. It has saved lives and
will continue to do so ..... until it is superseded. The contribution of Nigel
Andrews in introducing this system into Australia should not be overlooked.
Mike, given all this, ADSB as you suggest would seem to be the route to pursue
for sailplane pilots: For GA and ultralights too! The GPS issue you mention can
no doubt and will be resolved.
However where does this leave our hang-glider and para-glider friends? 760 km
done in Texas just a few hours ago. Lots of potential for conflict there!
Regards,
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Borgelt
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2012 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] ABC radio transponder story
At 08:20 PM 4/07/2012, you wrote:
There will always be attacks from airspace users who are intolerant of
other users, it's seems to be an ego thing similar to mines bigger, faster
or louder than yours. That said I also believe the future direction in the
area
is in ADSB and I don't believe we should be investing in what will become a
legacy technology, transponders have served aviation well but it's time to
move
forward.
I believe products like Power Flarm will emerge to meet our needs and the
needs
of those we share airspace with and most of will be happy; there will
always be those
who complain.
Stuart FERGUSON
Phone - 0419 797508
Borgelt Instruments - design & manufacture of quality soaring instrumentation
since 1978
www.borgeltinstruments.com
tel: 07 4635 5784 overseas: int+61-7-4635 5784
mob: 042835 5784 : int+61-42835 5784
P O Box 4607, Toowoomba East, QLD 4350, Australia
PowerFlarm is a Flarm with an additional RECEIVER to pick up 1090 MHz signals
from Mode A, C , S and ADSB transponders. Other airspace users won't be able
to see you unless they have a Flarm receiver and realistically for the heavy
metal that simply isn't going to happen. Glider pilots may be able to fit an
uncertified Flarm with velcro to the top of the instrument panel but Rex or
other airlines sure can't. Even if they were allowed to fit the uncertified
equipment the installation would cost heaps for little benefit at the likely
closing speeds due to the short range, low power Flarm signals. Even if they
got through the heated windscreen with embedded metal film. Avoiding that
problem means external antennas. What was that about cost? The airlines quite
reasonably can say they have bought and fitted certified equipment for
collision avoidance, Transponders , ADSB and TCAS and so should everyone else.
Gliding simply isn't going to win this. I doubt any airspace restrictions have
ever been avoided by any actions of official gliding bodies anywhere. There may
have been some small temporary victories but overall a losing battle. However,
in Australia we have actually had a reduction in he inverted wedding cakes over
the main centers. Fitting ADSB OUT to let other traffic see us is a powerful
argument for further reductions in these.
ADSB is best thought of as a super Flarm with range to the horizon. Yes it
requires a transponder that is ADSB capable. The Trig and others are already
Mode A/C/S transponders that can be upgraded to ADSB OUT with the addition of a
suitable GPS datastream. If you fit such a transponder and convince the
authorities about the GPS you are using (not all GPS units are equal) everyone
with a ADSB IN facility will see you. So will PowerFlarm but if you are
transmitting the ADSB signals at 175 watts vs the peanut whistle 100mW of Flarm
you really don't need the Flarm. I see there are USB stick ADSB receivers to
plug in to a PC for a few hundred dollars. Combination of these with ADSB out
makes a super Flarm that the rest of aviation is already using or planning on.
Mike
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