Mode C/S - 9,000 aircraft
FLARM - 3,200 aircraft
PilotAware - 3,100 aircraft
ADS-B - 1,000 aircraft
Nothing - 2,700 aircraft
Whilst I have no doubt that the total PilotAware figures are correct as the article was written by one of the Company’s Team (although, anecdotally, on other forums some pilots have said they have stopped using their units for various reasons - so even that figure may be at variance with actual units flying in aircraft). However, it is the FLARM figure that sparked my attention.
Back in August 2019, FLARM published on their blog the following information:
https://flarm.com/flarm-dominantly-part ... in-the-uk/FLARM is already well integrated into UK airspace with over 7,000 aircraft flying in the UK being equipped to date. Of these, half are powered airplanes and helicopters.
So this figure quoted by FLARM is over TWICE the size as quoted by PilotAware. Now if we are to believe the manufacturer’s figures from PilotAware should we not believe the manufacturer’s figures for FLARM? It certainly seems to meet the claim of “manufacturers’ data where available”?
I also saw that 7,000 figure quoted by FLARM’s General Manager back in November 2018 in Pilot Magazine in an Erratum: https://www.pilotweb.aero/gear/electron ... -1-5800490
Finally, the ADS-B number seems oddly rounded to a convenient 1,000. I have tried to ascertain the number of certified, non-certified and CAP1391 approved aircraft flying with ADS-B In/Out. So far without success. However, what it doesn’t show in the table is what can receive ADS-B without the need for ground infrastructure - many standalone receivers can, including a proportion of the 7,000 (manufacturer’s figures) FLARM units, all PilotAwares, all CAP1391 devices and a large proportion of certified ADS-B equipment.
It would be useful if the LAA printed an Errata for the FLARM data in the next issue of the excellent Light Aviation magazine - if nothing else to ensure that FLARM’s claims are properly represented. A copy of this will be emailed to the office manager too.