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FLARM (Flight Alarm) for hang- and para gliders
FLARM (Flight Alarm) for hang- and para gliders Due to its efficiency and continuous enhancement the FLARM-system’s popularity is still growing. More often, it is even used by pilots of motor-driven aircraft now, especially when they often operate inside areas with frequent gliding flight traffic. However, inside these areas, air activity is also operated by para gliders and hang gliders. Due to the fact that these hang gliders are not fitted with an instrument panel, nor with an on-board battery, their movement was effected without collision warningdevice. For this reason they are not visible by electronic means for pilots of faster moving aircraft or helicopters. Now this will change fundamentally. Indeed, in cooperation with the FLARM developers, the worldwide leading developer of electronic flight instruments for hang gliders, Flytec enterprise, located at Horw (LU) in Switzerland, has found an ingenious solution. Their two most popular multifunction instruments for hang glider pilots, the COMPETINO+ and the COMPEO+, may now be fitted with the so called "passive FLARM". This part is the intrinsic FLARM-transponder, a tiny electronic unit, which is a built-in component of the instrument. It reacts to the signals of FLARM collision warning devices of other aircraft it has received. Due to this system the pilots in cockpits of helis or other aircraft are able to discern para gliders and hang gliders within a perimeter of several kilometres and may therefore react accordingly. The identification distance is sufficient for the pilot of a sailplane, usually cruising at a speed of 100 km/h to 180 km/h, to dispose of more than 30 seconds toaccomplish an emergency turn. The operation of the FLARM-transponder is resulting in power consumption of the instrument being higher by approx. 30%. However, it may be switched-off. Since hang gliders and para gliders are moving at different speed and agility, the pilot of the hang glider can select himself the type of his glider to be signalled (para / hang glider). In consideration of the safety related interest of the module, this enhancement of the FLARM device was financially supported by the Swiss hang glider association (SHV) and also by REGA. Moreover, both developing companies FLARM and Flytec renounce to carry entirely forward the remaining development and manufacturing costs on the unit’s sales price. This decision has been taken with the hope that the FLARM-transponder will be distributed amongst the hang- and para gliders as numerously as the FLARM complete device is to be found on board of motorised aircraft and helicopters. Therefore all pilots now have a very important safety option at their disposal, and moreover, at an attractive price. This is indeed a very important option for all pilots moving in heavily frequented air space! Antenna ( is fitted instead of the pitot intake, the FLARM – circuit board which is fitted into
The collision warning device FLARM is already available since 2004. Meanwhile about 14.000 instruments are warning worldwide against the risk of collision the pilots of helicopters, sailplanes and light aircraft. Now the new FLARM-transponderfor backfitting the COMPEO+ and also the COMPETINO+ is on hand. The FLARM device being developed by Swiss glider pilots is a small, lightweight and reasonably priced collision warning instrument coming with low power input. Initially, it was designed for safety in gliding flight; indeed the streamlined gliders are hardly perceivable under certain angles. This is true in particular, when they fly precisely toward the viewer or if the are in front of a white setting.
The FLARM instruments alert the pilots when another FLARM equipped aircraft is close-by.
The appropriate solution in micro format
When a complete FLARM-device is charged at the price of more than one thousand Swiss franks, the new FLARM-transponder is available as option for a new instrument at the price of 70,00 EUR, and as add-on kit for the price
of 110,00 EUR. The re-fitting is carried out by Flytec/Bräuniger.
pitot tube is then connected as usual). On the
Competino+ the opening shall be closed.
the COMPEO+ / COMPETINO+ as
"piggyback" circuit board.
New oil pressure senders for the ALPHA-MFD
Up from 2009 the ALPHA-MFD can be connected to electronic oil pressure senders from Rotax-Honeywell. Very important for the ROTAX 912 engines. Replaces the old VDO mechanical sender. Some old ALPHA-MFD can be upgraded! Please ask.