jcarlyle wrote:
I know, ADSB is what is being touted, but price is never mentioned. A
$500 dollar FLARM unit in all US aircraft would probably be much
cheaper than ADSB. Getting the FAA to sign on to or to back FLARM,
though, is another big problem.

Current ADS-B transceivers are expensive, right now, because they are
currently being produced in small quantities. In fact, a basic ADS-B
UAT (Universal Access Transceiver) is essentially no more complex or
expensive to implement than a FLARM-like device. The difference is
price comes down to the cost of certification and manufacturing to TSO
requirements. If a FLARM-like device was mandated by the FAA, it would
cost nearly as much as an ADS-B UAT.

Perhaps it would be beneficial to approach both SSA and AOPA about
FLARM, to try to get them to back it rather than ATSB?

There is a minute chance that the SSA could be convinced, but AOPA has
already thrown its support to ADS-B...

Marc