AirNav Systems Forum
AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com => AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com Discussion => Topic started by: AirNav Development on July 03, 2009, 09:30:56 AM
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CAA publishes final decision SSR Transponder Carriage: the way ahead.
Links below:
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1/Mode%20S%20decision%20-%20In%20Focus.pdf
http://www.flighttrainingnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=103&Itemid=1
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published its final decision on proposals for a second phase of expansion in the use of Mode S transponders in UK airspace.
Following consultation on a variety of proposals, the CAA say it has decided to focus on the busiest and most complex areas of airspace for the expansion of Mode S transponders.
The CAA intends to introduce:
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o Regulation to require all aircraft (except gliders) flying within Class A to C controlled airspace to carry and operate a Mode S transponder with effect from 1 October 2009.
o An extension of the Mode S transponder carriage regulations to include gliders with effect from 6 April 2012.
o Amendments to the transponder carriage regulations applicable to Self-Launching Motor Gliders (SLMG) to bring these into line with the regulations for all other gliders.
o There will still be the option for air traffic control to allow non-transponder equipped flights into the airspace, providing safety and efficiency levels can be assured.
Mark Swan, CAA Director of Airspace Policy, said: “This second phase of transponder regulations builds on the introduction of Mode S as the means of compliance for mandatory transponder carriage which came into effect in March 2008. These changes further increase the use of technical interoperability to enhance safety. By adopting a measured approach, the increased use of transponders will enhance the culture of a collaborative approach to safety of flight by all users, without being unduly restrictive.
“Although gliders will now be included in the transponder carriage rules from 2012, we will be encouraging agreements between gliding organisations and air traffic control to permit gliders without transponders to access controlled airspace where conditions permit. Even though there is a general requirement for transponder carriage above FL100 in the UK, there will be no requirement for transponder carriage on gliders when operating in current active designated gliding areas. We will work with gliding organisations to consider additional areas from FL100 upwards by 2012.”
The CAA says it acknowledges the problems of fitting transponders to Self Launching Motor Gliders (SLMG) and will amend the regulations to treat them as other gliders for the purposes of the transponder carriage.
The authority also says that it will amend the Airspace Change Process (ACP) to allow air traffic control service providers to apply for the introduction of compulsory transponder carriage in other specific volumes of airspace.
Under existing transition arrangements associated with the previous expansion of Mode S transponder carriage in UK airspace, operators of aircraft wishing to operate in mandatory transponder carriage airspace that are equipped with Mode A/C transponders have until 31 March 2012 to complete the necessary upgrades to Mode S.
Mark Swan said: “Throughout the consultations on Mode S we have had extensive feedback from the General Aviation community. We have taken these views on board and I believe our final decision balances the wider needs of the aviation community with the overriding requirement for safety of flight.”
The full CAA decision and further background material is available on the CAA website at www.caa.co.uk/modes. A fact sheet on Mode S is also available at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1/Mode%20S%20decision%20-%20In%20Focus.pdf
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Good news for all of us
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You need to be aware that the majority of GA MODE-S transponders are not ADS-B Out capable and so they do not output positional information (they will no be plotted in RB). However there are a few reasonable priced units out there for us GA pilots that are ADS-B Out capable but they also need to be tied to a GPS unit to output the required positional info.
Guess what... all this adds cost to what is already an expensive activity.
My guess is most GA training and private aircraft will just be standard MODE-S but not ADS-B Out capable.
So don't assume that your RB screens are going to be lit up with GA aircraft come October 2009.
However I will be pushing for my aircraft G-HOCK to start appearing on your screens around that time (if not sooner).
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Tallyho: can you let us know where to buy and how much do mode-s units with ADS-B cost? We get asked many times on our support about this.
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Hi All,
Does this mean that (for example) FlyBe flights that currently only show in the lists will start appearing on the screen, or have I misunderstood this ?
Cheers
Dave
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I'll be happy if more GA and RAF aircraft appear in the aircraft list, even if they're not plotted on the map.
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Does this mean that (for example) FlyBe flights that currently only show in the lists will start appearing on the screen, or have I misunderstood this ?
No. They already have ModeS, since they appear in the list. There's nothing in this CAA announcement to require ADS/B for these aircraft.
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Shame - I'll have to keep finding them the hard way then :o)
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The unit that appears to most popular with GA at the moment is TRIG TT21 or TT31 but Garmin also have a unit and no doubt the other manufacturers will soon produce these (if they are not already).
I am personally looking at the TRIG TT31 which can by a direct swap out for many common existing transponders in use GA aircraft today.
There website is
http://www.trig-avionics.com/products.html
which lists their approved dealers.
If you want to know more please feel free to PM me, as I have already been in discussions with TRIG on this subject.
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Shame - I'll have to keep finding them the hard way then :o)
You can use PlanePlotter with it's MLAT capability :)
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Tallyho: can you let us know where to buy and how much do mode-s units with ADS-B cost? We get asked many times on our support about this.
Quite a few different ModeS transponders with ADS/B at transair:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=ads-b+site%3Atransair.co.uk
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After rereading the statement it would appear the majority of GA aircraft, my own included have until 31 March 2012 to upgrade so there wont be quite the rush I was thinking and a little more time to save up :)
Under existing transition arrangements associated with the previous expansion of Mode S transponder carriage in UK airspace, operators of aircraft wishing to operate in mandatory transponder carriage airspace that are equipped with Mode A/C transponders have until 31 March 2012 to complete the necessary upgrades to Mode S.
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not cheap thought.....!!!
can it be claimed on expenses? (only UK citizens need reply :-)
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Only if he is the honourable member Tallyho !
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Can he not claim the aircraft as his second home?
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When I say mine... it is one sixth mine... it's a shared ownership aircraft...
wouldn't want you guys thinking I was some rich MP :o)
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Tallyho your too honorable for that :-)