Collision Avoidanceand

• 20 GA mid-air events per year world-wide

• In every 3rd event gliders are involved

• 50% fatality rate

• Every 3rd fatality in gliding caused by mid-airs making it #2 accident cause

• Many more near-misses than mid-airs

• Several near-misses remain unnoticed

This is the result of a midair collision - August 2014!

Koln

Frankfurt

Stuttgart

Glider flight concentrations in central Europe

FLARM – ‘flight alarm’

Flarm receives position and movement information using 16 channel GPS receiver with external antenna.

A pressure sensor further enhances accuracy of position measurements.

Flarm determines the risk of collision of one or more aircraft or obstacles, and gives the pilot a warning – visual and audio.

Situation in Gliding

Pilot

FLARM

Situation

+

++

opposite

-

++

opposite

+--

+++

circling / straight

-

++

opposite circling

+

-

identical circling

FLARM 2005 ‚Swiss Flarm.

LX Flarm

LX Flarm RX -Receive – signal detected from another aircraft

TX-Transmit should be ON indicates FLARM is transmitting

GPS – ON GPS operating

Power - ON

LX Flarm

MODE

MODE – 2 modes NEAREST & COLLISION

LX Flarm

ABOVE

Threat from 1 o’clock and above

Flarm detected at 3 o’clock NO immediate

threat

Human Vision is good ..but?

Flarm mounted on top of a DG instrument panel, indicating traffic from above behind right.

3 gliders thermalling. The external Flarm-Display shows a glider at the same altitude (= no up/down indication) at 2 o’clock. The indication is only “traffic information” (=no beep, no blink, no danger).From the two gliders in sight only the one right has a Flarm, the closer one has not (yet).

• Detection range – typically 2-3 km.

• FLARM – will not operate without adequate GPS signal strength.

• Correct antenna installation is essential.

• Obstacle detection requires latest database.

• Flarm must have the latest software to ensure correct detection by other Flarm units.

Flarm Mini-box Mini-box colour

Flarm ViewFlarm and ADS-B

CAUTION!

• FLARM is an aid to normal lookout – it DOES NOT replace it!

• It DOES NOT give guidance or avoiding action it is an aid to situational awareness ONLY.

• Will not give warnings about aircraft without Flarm.