[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