Transponder vs. Portable Transponder Detectors

At 05:53 15 December 2008, wrote:
For the Minden/Air Sailing area...get the transponder. All you have
to do in monitor the Reno approach frequency while you are flying with
the transponder on and you will be impressed with how much effort the
air traffic controllers put in to diverting traffic away from you.

For a mear $500 more, you should have the PDT also.

Now you are a full participant in the air traffic control system!!!

Guy Acheson "DDS"


If you only have a transponder detector it will be like wearing an
invisibilty cloak - you will know where 'they' are, but they won't see
you. Hardly seems fair, does it?

The mid-airs (or major scary moments, if you're lucky) will become
interactions between people who are relying on detectors, but don't
themselves have a xpdr.

Similarly in Europe (and other non-US gliding places), Flarm is gaining
popularity, however, until it is mandatory one can only detect a
relatively small percentage of gliders ( i.e. other Flarm equipped
gliders) and never detect power traffic.

Last summer I came tooooo close to a Lear Jet right over Reno at
12,000 feet. We were both talking to approach control, but neither had
requested flight following. He lit up my PCAS just as I lit up his
TCAS................we exchanged salutations on approach frequency and
went our separate ways. Approach never saw a thing! This little
scenario could have been much different if both of us didn't have
mode C transponder and PCAS/TCAS.
You are taking your life in your hands if you fly around Reno without
a transponder and PCAS.
JJ

One thing you have to remember....just because you have a transponder
doesn't mean that "everyone" will see you or even have any notification that
you are there....Just because "most" G/A aircraft are required to have a
transponders doesn't mean that they have TCAS....or even have radio contact
with ATC....with just a transponder out there blinking away a frequency the
other guy is still as blind as you are.....If you fly anywhere there is
significant traffic...get an MRX TPAS unit....these are still relatively
cheap....tiny no installation required...and portable ...
http://www.wingsandwheels.com/page4.htm
tim



"Peter Wyld" wrote in message
...
At 05:53 15 December 2008, wrote:
For the Minden/Air Sailing area...get the transponder. All you have
to do in monitor the Reno approach frequency while you are flying with
the transponder on and you will be impressed with how much effort the
air traffic controllers put in to diverting traffic away from you.

For a mear $500 more, you should have the PDT also.

Now you are a full participant in the air traffic control system!!!

Guy Acheson "DDS"


If you only have a transponder detector it will be like wearing an
invisibilty cloak - you will know where 'they' are, but they won't see
you. Hardly seems fair, does it?

The mid-airs (or major scary moments, if you're lucky) will become
interactions between people who are relying on detectors, but don't
themselves have a xpdr.

Similarly in Europe (and other non-US gliding places), Flarm is gaining
popularity, however, until it is mandatory one can only detect a
relatively small percentage of gliders ( i.e. other Flarm equipped
gliders) and never detect power traffic.