[USA] What do you think of mandatory FLARM at Uvalde?

On Jan 26, 10:50*am, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Jan 26, 6:38*am, Big Wings wrote:

Flarm has a configuration file in which it is possible to specify the
frequency to be used. *The current options a
Australia * * * * 921 MHz
New Zealand * 869.2 MHz
North America 915 MHz
Rest of the World 868.0 - 868.6 MHz

No doubt if the FCC specified a different frequency in this part of the
spectrum additional config. file options would be made available.

This has been discussed many times on ras already. Flarm classic
devices already support the USA 915 MHz ISM band (and will
automatically frequency switch as well as being manually configurable
if you want), this is the same frequency band that PowerFLARM will use
in the USA. However having something implemented in the code and
having the devices legal/FCC approved are two different things. And
the Flarm classic devices are not FCC approved. I do not believe there
is any work underway by FLARM or any OEM to have any existing devices
FCC approved and FLARM seems to be putting significant work into
meeting all the niggly specs for FCC approval on the PowerFLARM units.
This is something I would assume the IGC *and others involved in this
contest know all the details on, if not its a simple email or phone
call to the Flarm guys to find out the details to help with making
decisions to ensure Flarm technology is available for those
contestants that want it at this contest. Again not one thing here
should be a surprise.

Darryl

I'll also point out that the midair that occurred last summer involved
a plane
that didn't have FLARM, so I can see the point of requiring it during
a WGC.
This year's pre-worlds contest is limited to 40 planes so it should be
less
of an issue.

-- Matt

On Jan 26, 8:04*am, mattm wrote:
On Jan 26, 10:50*am, Darryl Ramm wrote:



On Jan 26, 6:38*am, Big Wings wrote:

Flarm has a configuration file in which it is possible to specify the
frequency to be used. *The current options a
Australia * * * * 921 MHz
New Zealand * 869.2 MHz
North America 915 MHz
Rest of the World 868.0 - 868.6 MHz

No doubt if the FCC specified a different frequency in this part of the
spectrum additional config. file options would be made available.

This has been discussed many times on ras already. Flarm classic
devices already support the USA 915 MHz ISM band (and will
automatically frequency switch as well as being manually configurable
if you want), this is the same frequency band that PowerFLARM will use
in the USA. However having something implemented in the code and
having the devices legal/FCC approved are two different things. And
the Flarm classic devices are not FCC approved. I do not believe there
is any work underway by FLARM or any OEM to have any existing devices
FCC approved and FLARM seems to be putting significant work into
meeting all the niggly specs for FCC approval on the PowerFLARM units.
This is something I would assume the IGC *and others involved in this
contest know all the details on, if not its a simple email or phone
call to the Flarm guys to find out the details to help with making
decisions to ensure Flarm technology is available for those
contestants that want it at this contest. Again not one thing here
should be a surprise.

Darryl

I'll also point out that the midair that occurred last summer involved
a plane
that didn't have FLARM, so I can see the point of requiring it during
a WGC.
This year's pre-worlds contest is limited to 40 planes so it should be
less
of an issue.

-- Matt

I would hope the pre-worlds could be used by all attending/organizing
to shake out use of PowerFLARM systems for their upcoming word
contest, including dealing with organizational logistics for rentals/
loaners etc. If there is possibility the Worlds will mandate FLARM
then it makes sense to run through the validation/checking procedures
that a mandate might involve even if the pre-worlds was not also
affected by a mandate. And again I am not suggesting there needs to be
a mandate, IMNSHO that should be left mostly to the competitors to
decide if they want a mandate. What is more important in my opinion is
absolutely ensuring the world contest every competitor who want to use
FLARM technology has reasonably easy access to a PowerFLARM device.
The discussion should be on what "reasonably easy" means.


Darryl

What happened to Dale Kramers Flarm fund? Uvalde WGC would be a good
place to make rental units available and strongly encourage their use.

Mandating is not practical yet.

Peter Deane

On Jan 26, 12:08*pm, peter deane wrote:
What happened to Dale Kramers Flarm fund? Uvalde WGC would be a good
place to make rental units available and strongly encourage their use.

Mandating is not practical yet.

Peter Deane

http://www.flarmfund.org/

His Ventus is currently on page 2 of Wings and Wheels.

Whether Dale is driving it or not, the rental pool remains a viable
option for encouraging use of, without resorting to mandate, at the
WGC.

Perhaps our WGC organizing team might consider this as an option and
discuss ways of doing this with the PowerFlarm folks.

2T

On Jan 26, 3:43*pm, peter deane wrote:
Whether Dale is driving it or not, the rental pool remains a viable
option for encouraging use of, without resorting to mandate, at the
WGC.

Perhaps our WGC organizing team might consider this as an option and
discuss ways of doing this with the PowerFlarm folks.

2T

Someplace (not sure where I read it, maybe on gliderpilot.org) I read
that Sam Zimmerman was taking over the Flarm Fund. I believe quite
a few people had ordered (or planned to order) extra units in order to
populate the fund.
I'm not sure where that ended up once Dale pulled out. I had pledged
some cash towards the effort but we've missed the initial ordering
deadline without me hearing anything more.

-- Matt