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Old November 1st 10, 03:07 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Darryl Ramm
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Default PowerFlarm response to transponders

On Nov 1, 4:21*am, Mark wrote:
I've seen the nice demo/video of the FLARM response to the mid-air.

I've probably missed it, but is there a detailed description of how
the PowerFlarm responds to GA aircraft with transponders? *I have a
PCAS and am curious how similar the two devices behave/indicate in
this situation.

Thanks,

Mark


This has been covered on r.a.s. before but buried in noise so I'll try
to summarize here.

PCAS is a technology not a product name/brand. The PowerFLARM detects
other transponders using PCAS and should perform much the same as the
ZAON MRX (the current market leading PCAS model, which I fly with). As
with the Zaon MRX the PowerFLARM will detect Mode C and Mode S
transponders and there is non-direction information -- but with the
PowerFLARM you also have the ability to see the threat aircraft via
Flarm or ADS-B if they have that as well as a transponder. If the
threat aircraft is Mode S equipped then PowerFLARM may know enough to
suppress the PCAS warning automatically so it won't be going off
unnecessarily (since the Mode S transponder, ADS-B and Flarm
transmissions all should have a common ICAO address in their
transmissions). As with any PCAS the transponder needs to be
interrogated by an external source like SSR radar, TCAS, etc.

The PowerFLARM PCAS warning you'll see is shown at...
http://www.gliderpilot.org/FLARM-who-will-I-see

Darryl