Andrew Gideon wrote:
GA pilots aren't funding equipment in other aircraft. They are,
however, funding the creation of a network in the air whereby all
aircraft (excluding military? Nasty, that!)

I just did a quick scan of the DoD comments posted today (FAA-2007-29305-
0154.1) and it looks like they are complaining about the cost or
unlikelyhood of retrofitting some of their aircraft to be in compliance.
Hmmm.

are announcing their
positions. It's not all that different from transponders, in the
sense that putting a transponder in an aircraft benefits all aircraft,
and not just the aircraft footing the bill.

Nit: I'm not clear how transponders in two otherwise NORDO aircraft stops
either from bumping into each other. Or to what extent transponder (or ADS-
B Out) equipped aircraft prevent MACs near or at non-towered airports.

Separate from this, the GA owner can choose whether or not to spend
the extra dollars to gain direct benefit from this network.

My understanding is that if they want to fly VFR above 10,000 MSL they will
be required to have ADS-B Out. This is a _new_ cost requirement for using
that portion of the airspace - even to VFR flights. Not only is it a new
cost, it provides the VFR pilot no benefit. I believe that two fully
compliant ADS-B Out aircraft flying VFR in that space can still bump into
each other. Hence the conclusion by some (such as myself) that the mandate
costs and benefits are not equitable nor reasonable. (I also dislike the
technology because it relies on GPS.)

Anyway, finally got around to submitting my comments (hopefully in time).
They weren't terribly coherent or compelling, but what the heck.