Powerflarm results @Seniors

I going to "guess" a bit:

I understand the FCC restricted the transmitted power output of the
PowerFlarm over what PF would have liked. They also refused approval
unless PF took steps to prevent someone from installing a high gain
antenna in order to improve output power. This resulted in sub-optimal
transmitted range, though I thought it was still supposed to be 2 to 4
miles or so. PF did include a "panel" Flarm receive antenna that is
"optional" to install. Using that antenna will increase the effective
range of the PF by displaying threat aircraft at a more distant range.
If the threat aircraft doesn't also use the "panel" antenna, then
you'll probably see him before he sees you.

Were these additional receive antennas used at the contests or left in
the box?

In my flight testing with PF in two power aircraft, effective range
was about .5 to 2 nm, without using the panel antenna, and seemed
dependant on aircraft orientation as one would expect as sometime
there was aircraft structure in the way. I'm using the panel antenna
in my glider, but so far have not found anothe PF equipped glider to
play with.

The "ADS-B in" works flawlessly all the way out to 32 nm. The PCAS
function seems reliable to at least 8 nm, however the altitude
displayed will sometimes show a minus instead of a plus when clearly
the threat aircraft is above.

bumper

In our club we have "Academy" training evenings during winter
season. Few weeks ago I was telling about FLARM units, and this
week one our member who works for accident investigation was
telling about safety issues in competitions. Safety is an issue here,
since within 12 months lifes of 4 Finnish glider pilot were lost. 2 in
midair with an eagle (!!), one because of motorized take-off spoilers
open, and one because of midair with other competitor.

The conclusion of the last incident, midair between two competing
planes, both equipped with FLARM units, flying 10 minutes very
close to each others, was really scary. FLARM seems to be
something that might warn you if someone is approaching under the
same cloudstreet, but in competition where you have several planes
near to you all the time, you still might loose situation awareness.

FLARM antenna installation is really a problem. PowerFlarm seems
to have two antennas, I have no idea how that works. I have
installed several FLARMs into our club gliders, and I have used "RF
Range Analysis" tool provided by FLARM.
http://flarm.com/support/analyze/index_en.html
This should tell you if your antenna installation has problems - and
there often are problems. I would like to see this analysis extended
into 3 dimensional graphic.

Everyone who installs FLARM in a plane should use this analysis
tool.

On Thursday, March 22, 2012 12:38:43 AM UTC-7, Kimmo Hytoenen wrote:
In our club we have "Academy" training evenings during winter
season. Few weeks ago I was telling about FLARM units, and this
week one our member who works for accident investigation was
telling about safety issues in competitions. Safety is an issue here,
since within 12 months lifes of 4 Finnish glider pilot were lost. 2 in
midair with an eagle (!!), one because of motorized take-off spoilers
open, and one because of midair with other competitor.

The conclusion of the last incident, midair between two competing
planes, both equipped with FLARM units, flying 10 minutes very
close to each others, was really scary. FLARM seems to be
something that might warn you if someone is approaching under the
same cloudstreet, but in competition where you have several planes
near to you all the time, you still might loose situation awareness.

FLARM antenna installation is really a problem. PowerFlarm seems
to have two antennas, I have no idea how that works. I have
installed several FLARMs into our club gliders, and I have used "RF
Range Analysis" tool provided by FLARM.
http://flarm.com/support/analyze/index_en.html
This should tell you if your antenna installation has problems - and
there often are problems. I would like to see this analysis extended
into 3 dimensional graphic.

Everyone who installs FLARM in a plane should use this analysis
tool.

Kimmo, thank for sharing and very sorry to hear about the fatalities, especially giving that 3 life were lost in midairs in one year alone. Can you share some more details so we can all learn? This is the first time I am hearing of a fatal midair collision with an eagle. One more thing to worry about now...

Ramy

At 08:12 22 March 2012, Ramy wrote:
On Thursday, March 22, 2012 12:38:43 AM UTC-7, Kimmo
Hytoenen wrote:
In our club we have "Academy" training evenings during
winter=20
season. Few weeks ago I was telling about FLARM units, and
this=20
week one our member who works for accident investigation
was=20
telling about safety issues in competitions. Safety is an issue
here,=20
since within 12 months lifes of 4 Finnish glider pilot were lost.
2 in=20
midair with an eagle (!!), one because of motorized take-off
spoilers=20
open, and one because of midair with other competitor.
=20
The conclusion of the last incident, midair between two
competing=20
planes, both equipped with FLARM units, flying 10 minutes
very=20
close to each others, was really scary. FLARM seems to
be=20
something that might warn you if someone is approaching
under the=20
same cloudstreet, but in competition where you have several
planes=20
near to you all the time, you still might loose situation
awareness.
=20
FLARM antenna installation is really a problem. PowerFlarm
seems=20
to have two antennas, I have no idea how that works. I
have=20
installed several FLARMs into our club gliders, and I have
used "RF=20
Range Analysis" tool provided by FLARM.
http://flarm.com/support/analyze/index_en.html
This should tell you if your antenna installation has problems
- and=20
there often are problems. I would like to see this analysis
extended=20
into 3 dimensional graphic.
=20
Everyone who installs FLARM in a plane should use this
analysis=20
tool.

Kimmo, thank for sharing and very sorry to hear about the
fatalities,
espec=
ially giving that 3 life were lost in midairs in one year alone.
Can you
sh=
are some more details so we can all learn? This is the first time
I am
hear=
ing of a fatal midair collision with an eagle. One more thing to
worry
abou=
t now...

Ramy


The accident took place last autumn in Jaca, northern Spain,
where Finnish gliding academy was having training camp. A
large bird collided with the upper part of the vertical stabilizer,
the connection point with horizontal stabilizer. The impact has
been severe, since the horizontal stabilized was cut half,
horizontal stabilized lost completely, and the glider become
uncontrollable.

Both pilots jumped, but altitude was only about 200 m (just
passing mountain top) and chutes did not have time to open.

Glider was duo discus, Finnish call-sign OH-1000. Couple months
before I was flying the same plane in the same place.

This is the official preliminary report in Finnish.
http://www.turvallisuustutkinta.fi//...taista/Muuttie
dotteet/1302674026783