Why no remote unlock?

On Mar 17, 12:14*am, "Robert M. Gary" wrote:
I use my plane for family transportation. So the wife and kids don't
see a lot of difference between running out to the plane to go to
Mexico vs. going out to the car. So when the family runs out ahead and
we have the car I hit the remote unlock. The other day my wife asked
why the plane doesn't have a remote unlock. When you think about it;
why not have the same ease-of-use items in the plane as the car.

The practical reasons are weight and power draw. Weight is obvious
(and mentioned by others), power draw not so much. The batteries we
use in our airplanes are basically equivalent to lawn tractor
batteries - and not the high end $90 ones that have a 3 year full
replacement and 8 year pro-rated warranty.

The $90 lawn tractor batteries use new technology matted fiber for
suspending the acid, and thus achieve more reserve capacity, more
starting power, and longer life in a smaller, lower weight package
than our aircraft batteries. But we can't use them. Not approved.
What we use is basically the same technology and quality control as
the $25 lawn tractor batteries, but with more paperwork.

Add to this the fact that it is normal rather than rare for an
airplane to sit three weeks without being started. All this time, the
receiver for the locks is powered up and waiting for a signal, drawing
power from a battery that is undersized (for weight) and low tech
(just because) to begin with. Not a good plan.

Michael