IGC-approval issued for LXN Colibri recorder with Flarm

[Ian Strachan]

Subject: IGC-approval issued for Colibri recorder with Flarm.

I am pleased to announce that, after appropriate evaluation and
testing by the IGC GNSS
Flight Recorder Approval Committee (GFAC), a revised IGC-approval
document has been
issued for the LX Navigation Colibri flight recorder. The testing
involved the latest Colibri
version which has a Flarm (Flight Alarm) proximity warning module
inside the recorder. In
view of the IGC standard of physical and electronic security that is
incorporated in the Colibri
recorder, this approval is for "all flights" including world records.

The date of effect is 31 March 2007 and the new model type is the LX
Navigation Colibri 4F
(4 for the model 4 series, F for Flarm). Details of its
characteristics and operation in the
gliding environment are given in the IGC-approval document.

The updated IGC-approval document will be posted on the IGC GNSS web
pages shortly.

Go to http://www.fai.org/gliding/gnss and search for the link half way
down the page, under:
"List of IGC-approved FRs, with links to complete IGC-approval
documents." Then look for
LXN Colibri 4F in the table of 34 types of IGC-approved flight
recorders. The link to the
IGC-approval document is in the last column of the table.

-------------------------

This brings to two the IGC-approved flight recorders that have a Flarm
proximity warning
function in addition to the recording facility. The IGC-approval for
the Flarm-equipped LX
Navigation LX7007F recorder was issued on 17 March 2006. This
approval is also for "all
flights".

Meanwhile, as announced at the recent IGC Plenary meeting, the IGC GFA
Committee is
testing two other types of recorders with Flarm, with a view to IGC-
approval in due course.
These are Swiss Flarm by the Flarm company of Zurich, and the LXN Red
Box Flarm by LX
Navigation of Slovenia.


Ian Strachan
Chairman IGC GNSS Flight Recorder Approval Committee

[Ian[_1_]]

On Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:43:56 -0700, Ian Strachan wrote:

> Subject: IGC-approval issued for Colibri recorder with Flarm.

> I am pleased to announce that, after appropriate evaluation and testing
> by the IGC GNSS
> Flight Recorder Approval Committee (GFAC), a revised IGC-approval
> document has been
> issued for the LX Navigation Colibri flight recorder. The testing
> involved the latest Colibri
> version which has a Flarm (Flight Alarm) proximity warning module inside
> the recorder.

> -------------------------
>
> This brings to two the IGC-approved flight recorders that have a Flarm
> proximity warning
> function in addition to the recording facility. The IGC-approval for
> the Flarm-equipped LX
> Navigation LX7007F recorder was issued on 17 March 2006. This approval
> is also for "all
> flights".
>
> Meanwhile, as announced at the recent IGC Plenary meeting, the IGC GFA
> Committee is
> testing two other types of recorders with Flarm, with a view to IGC-
> approval in due course.
> These are Swiss Flarm by the Flarm company of Zurich, and the LXN Red
> Box Flarm by LX
> Navigation of Slovenia.

The current Flarm firmware (for the genuine Flarm devices) has a built in
expiry date of 28 Feb 2008. All Flarms have to be upgraded on or
shortly before this date. This is I presume is to facilitate upgrades in
the Flarm communication protocol. I assume the above devices will also
have to be upgraded regularly.

Can the Flarm firmware in these sealed Logger/Flarm devices be upgraded
by their owners or will they have to be shipped back to a certified
workshop who has been issued with the appropriate electronic "key" to
re-instate the security status of the Logger?

Regards


Ian