Motivation

Flarm can help to prevent collisions.

Despite the VFR-principle "see and avoid" about 20 collisions take place each year in the General Aviation. Every other glider pilot involved does not survive the collision. Collisions represent the second most important cause for lethal accidents in gliding and usually happen at good visibility and during day time.

Transponders will not help glider pilots to avoid collisions. Other technologies are designed to fulfil the commercial aviation's needs. The light aviation is lacking a low-cost low-power small-sized system capable of warning the pilot early enough and like that supporting him to avoid collisions.

Flarm is based on GPS and radio

FLARM has been developped by glider pilots for glider pilots. It broadcasts the glider's position using a radio data link. If other gliders equipped with a compatible system fly nearby, the devices assess future conflicts and warn the pilot accordingly by acoustical and optical means. In addition, FLARM warns whenever you approach a fixed obstacle like a cable or an antenna.

The usefullness an success of devices like FLARM require a broad diffusion of compatible devices. In order to acheive this target, all pilots and aircraft owners are required to actively participate in the expansion process of these devices. This requires them to accept risks. Devices like FLARM do not profit from a broad base of technical or operational experience made as these devices never existed before. There are many open risk issues, namely the legality of the digital radio, potential infringements with intellectual property and a potentially limited diffusion of such devices represent specific risks. If nobody takes these risks, we won't benefit from such a system for long time.

Background Information

LAST Report: Study to address the Detection and Recognition of Light Aircraft in the Current and Future ATM Environment, Initial study report on the carriage of Light Aviation SSR (Mode S) Transponder, May 2005

BEKLAS

Review of Midair Collision (Australia 2004)

See and Avoid, Background (Australia 2004)

See and Avoid, ATSB report (Australia 1991)

Collision Avoidance - Strategies and Tactics, PDF 569 kB

Limitation of "See and Avoid", PDF 59 kB

Compare different shapes of gliders, PDF 178 kB

Transponders in Gliding, PDF 50 kB

Helicopters vs. Paragliders (only German/French), PDF 235 kB

Powerpoint presentation, PDF 31.6 MB

Non-official overview on several collision avoidance systems.