Hi All,
I also don't want to tread on others toes, but as most of you have already worked out what is going on and all was revealed on the stand at Popham at the weekend, I just want to make a couple of quick but very important points to help 'clarify' the situation before the rumours start to get out of hand.
Glider and other FLARM/OGN aircraft movements and positions are already in the public domain through OGN and other public apps and websites. The clever part of this collaboration, is that glider (or other FLARM/OGN aircraft) positions are only broadcast when a PilotAware equipped aircraft is detected in range of a gliding site and is thus a potential threat to their aircraft. This of course helps us to comply with our responsibility under the ANO to see and give way to gliders, so effectively increasing the Flarm Users' safety (as well as ours), without either of us having to fit the other's equipment. A mutually beneficial arrangement. Remember, though that the gliders won't 'see' us electronically and its still up to us to avoid them.
The important point is that we are simply (re)broadcasting data which is already in the public domain, but doing so in a way which is in the best interests of Flarm's own Users.
The system is currently only active around the South Midlands, but I saw loads of UP-OGN showing during my transit through the area down to Popham from Scotland on Friday and not only gliders - (think RAF training fleet).
If (as I do) you want to 'see' FLARM equipped aircraft away from known and active sites, you will still need to equip your aircraft with FLARM, so if anything this should increase FLARM's sales not affect them negatively.
Regards
Peter
