I feel FLARM is the wrong instrument for use in the USA. We are being
looked at very closely by the FAA because of some mid-airs and the
complaints by commercial pilots. Transponders and PCAS give us the
anti-collision info for ALL AIRCRAFT, not just the few gliders that
have FLARM.

I have flown in the Alps for three years now. At St. Auban all of the
gliders in their fleet have FLARM. Flying in the area close to the
airfield the FLARM system gives you virtually 100% warnings about
surrounding gliders. BUT, get 20 miles away from the field and a high
number of gliders do not have FLARM. I have had a couple of near
misses because I was trying to identify a FLARM warning for a plane on
my left when a glider without FLARM was bearing down on me from the
right.

I don't believe FLARM will ever have enough penetration in the fleet
to be worth the cost and cockpit work load. Just read all the
procratinators who won't install a transponder now because ADS-B is
the future. I think the evidence is that ADS-B is a looooooooooong
way off. Of course, even when ADS-B is available it will be more
expensive than a transponder is now. Excuses, excuses, excuses.
Again, transponders and PCAS come much closer in the USA.

Ok....burn me.

Guy Acheson "DDS"