If I understand FLARM correctly

You can read information on FLARM at

http://www.gliderpilot.org/FLARM

and

http://powerflarm.us/

Not always up to date but covers a lot of info. You can also read the
PowerFLARM manual available on the FLARM web site.

Yes. For FLARM detection to work both aircraft need a Flarm device,
which in the USA means a PowerFLARM. However PowerFLARM (the models in
the USA) also detects transponders (currently Mode-S but Mode-C coming)
and ADS-B 1090ES. There are lots of qualification needed there, and
updates are coming which add more features, you can read other posts
here on that.

There are portable PowerFLARM units. Please go read the lots of
information available on PowerFLARM. The portable units are about twice
the height of a Zaon MRX but with larger antennas - mountable in many
gliders with some thought and can be internal battery powered although
using the ships battery is better. Many pilots are waiting for the
"brick" version as it can be mounted behind the panel/fits with a
already crowded cockpit better than the portable unit.

There are fleets of rental/training gliders that are being fully
PowerFLARM equipped, e.g. Williams Soaring Center where I fly out of is
equipping all their training/rental gliders and towplanes etc. and many
private owners there will be installing them as well. A (partial) list
of owners who have committed to install PowerFLARM is at
http://www.gliderpilot.org/Pilots-purchasing-PowerFLARM

If other glider traffic concerns you I would be raising the question of
installing PowerFLARM in those local gliders. Well if they don't have a
working VHF radio I'd do that first. Seems like you are trying hard to
personally fill in stuff here that really should be in the rental gliders.


Darryl


On 9/11/11 3:46 PM, Walt Connelly wrote:
For Flarm to be effective, the other guy has to have Flarm installed
too?

"FLARM (the name being inspired from 'flight alarm') obtains its
position from an internal GPS and a barometric sensor and then
broadcasts this with forecast data about the future 3d flight track. Its
receiver listens for other FLARM devices within typically 3-5 kilometres
and processes the information received."

From the above I deduce that Flarm only works if the other guy has Flarm
too.

I fly a rental 1-34 and Grob 103 with no radio, no audio vario and in an
environment in which at times one can find several gliders in close
proximity. I bought a portable Icom A24 radio (recommended) which is
only good when the other guy has a radio and either listens to my
reports or makes his own. I bought a wrist mounted audio vario so I
could listen for lift as opposed to flying with my head in the cockpit
(and up my a--) looking for a hopeful move from the vario needle. I
bought a parachute when I found myself thermaling with others in close
proximity, some of whom did not appear to be lookin' where they were
goin'.

I doubt if the rental ships are going to find themselves Flarm equipped
and It would appear that these are hard wired, hard installed types of
devices. Portables don't appear to be part of the senario. Gee, maybe
we need battery powered strobes on the top of the rudder to improve our
visibility.

Walt