Powerflarm's unknown effect on the first contests in US

On Jan 7, 10:41*pm, chris wrote:
I was wondering how the introduction of powerflarm will effect US
contests, especially Early in the year. *Usually changes are made
gradually, and introduced into in regionals a year before nationals.
Not so with powerflarm. *It is going to be allowed unrestricted for
nationals from the start.

From what I understand the first powerflarm units are supposed to
arrive in April. *I know new products don't always ship as scheduled.
[powerflarm is not as complex as a Dreamliner but still]. *Even if
they do ship on schedule there will just be a matter of weeks or days
for pilots to get them installed and get familiar with their
operation.

So some pilots may have them, other's won't especially early in the
year.
The Sports Class nationals are going to be in early May for example.
This seems like a great unknown as to how powerflarm will effect the
contest. *It seems that formal & informal team flying could give a
huge advantage to any group of 2+ pilots that choose to cooperate,
maybe for a few minutes, maybe the entire contest.

Without stealth mode won't all powerflarm users have an inherent
advantage in remote sensing of thermals and tracking other pilots
making team flying much simpler/inherent?

Seems like this will have to skew the results and tactics, almost like
having two classes [with & without powerflarm]. *At what point is it
unsportsman-like per the current rules, and who decides on what basis
when it appears that a team has formed?

There seem to be a lot of "known-unknowns" and "unknown-unknowns"
regarding the consequences and unintended consequences of the
introduction.

I am a big fan of the Zaon MXR - I've flown several seasons with it
and look forward to the powerflarm for expanding on it's
capabilities.
Just seems like we could be setting ourselves up for a whole contest
season of chaos and possible accusations of unsportsman-like tactics.

I'm done rambling now, any thoughts?
Chris

Careful reading of 2011 rules changes would note that the RC has
reserved the option to limit information available from Flarm devices.
A complication is that currently there is no practical way to require
Stealth mode that can be enforced without a Flarm flight log being
turned in every day. Risk is- have a power failure, possibly lose your
flight. There is conversation with Flarm folks over this , and
possible solutions, but first they need to get the product out.
There are quite a number of pilots that are very concerned about the
sporting implications of information that could be available from
PowerFlarm. PowerFlarm will be more capable than Flarm units in use in
Europe.
These concerns will not be ignored. There are some of us that do not
want to see the introduction of a leeching tool.
That said, the RC is strongly behind the implementation of PowerFlarm
as an anticollision device and recognizes that there may be a risk of
some effects this year that we might not want to have long term.
This will be a topic of much discussion and the 2011 pilot poll will
deal extensively with this topic. By then we will have some practical
experience to base judgements on.
UH RC chair speaking as an individual.

Am 08.01.2011 15:28, wrote:
PowerFlarm will be more capable than Flarm units in use in
Europe.

Do you have any details about the additional capabilities?

--
Peter Scholz
ASW24 JE

On Sun, 09 Jan 2011 01:04:10 +0100, Peter Scholz wrote:

Am 08.01.2011 15:28, wrote:
PowerFlarm will be more capable than Flarm units in use in Europe.

Do you have any details about the additional capabilities?

Essentially PCAS and data-out for a transponder with squitter.
See http://www.powerflarm.com/


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

Am 09.01.2011 13:14, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Sun, 09 Jan 2011 01:04:10 +0100, Peter Scholz wrote:

Am 08.01.2011 15:28, wrote:
PowerFlarm will be more capable than Flarm units in use in Europe.

Do you have any details about the additional capabilities?

Essentially PCAS and data-out for a transponder with squitter.
See http://www.powerflarm.com/


I'm aware of that, but what would be the "sporting implication" of that
additional information, as mentioned by UH?
--
Peter Scholz
ASW24 JE

On Jan 9, 11:16*am, Peter Scholz wrote:
Am 09.01.2011 13:14, Martin Gregorie wrote:

On Sun, 09 Jan 2011 01:04:10 +0100, Peter Scholz wrote:

Am 08.01.2011 15:28, wrote:
PowerFlarm will be more capable than Flarm units in use in Europe.

Do you have any details about the additional capabilities?

Essentially PCAS and data-out for a transponder with squitter.
Seehttp://www.powerflarm.com/

I'm aware of that, but what would be the "sporting implication" of that
additional information, as mentioned by UH?
--
Peter Scholz
ASW24 JE

Look at the web site for LS8000. One feature is the use of Flarm info
to identify a marker ("target") in the distance, get his climb info,
and calculate your arrival height at his thermal. This, and other
potential developments of these principles(display of the "better"
target to chase), have quite significant implications on the character
of gliding competition in my view. I seem to remember, but haven't
confirmed, that PowerFlarm will have greater range than current Flarm.
UH