So the competition pilots like PowerFlarm and the glitches are being worked out. The second wave of deployment will come at clubs and glider ports that have a lot of gliders in the pattern and close by terrain features that concentrate traffic.

What about the rest of us? The third wave? I fly at an airport with relatively low traffic. A recreational cross country pilot said to me, "Why do I need PowerFlarm? Most of the time I'm far away from other gliders." Good point.

But what about the student and very low hour pilots flying close to the airport? The pilots that are somewhat unproven in their ability to 'see and avoid'? You know... the kind of pilot that sometimes enters a thermal in the wrong direction? The kind of pilot that doesn't parse the radio call that he is heading straight at you. The kind of pilot who stares at the variometer because he's having trouble centering in the thermal. You know ... your average very low hours pilot who flies within sight of the airport. (No shame. Everyone goes through that stage. Hopefully it's brief and non-fatal..)

There's a good cost/benefit argument for putting PowerFlarm in ALL club gliders, trainers and towplanes, and that would kickstart broader adoption. When the new pilots step up to their first gliders, they'd voluntarily budget for a PowerFlarm. A few experienced pilots would get PowerFlarm to keep track of those unpredictable newbies.

PowerFlarm is a no-brainer for anyone who looks at the sport with fresh eyes, "why would anyone fly without it?" given the choice. Most of us newbies would have no problem with a surcharge to put PowerFlarm in all club gliders and towplanes.