I suspect we will disagree on this Frans, but I think having an inspector
look at my aircraft is a good thing, rather than an imposition. We are all
human and human beings are error prone. A second pair of eyes is a valuable
contribution to a safe first flight. Not too late to reconsider!
Regards
Brian Davies
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Frans Veldman
Sent: 13 November 2009 10:31
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Mode S transponders
--> <frans@paardnatuurlijk.nl>
David Corbett wrote:
> Please could our friends in the Netherlands give us (in UK) an update
> as to whether aircraft flying below 1200 ft under the Amsterdam TMA
> are still being required to turn their Mode S transponders off whilst
> in the relevant airspace? This request is on behalf of the UK General
> Aviation Safety Council.
Yes, this is still the case. :-(
And yes, it is still mandatory for us to carry a mode-S transponder on
board. :-( I have hold it off as long as possible, but I just bought an
expensive mode-S transponder which I have to turn off over half the country.
I also had to buy an expensive 406 MHz ELT (PLB is not allowed as an
alternative), mandatory if you want to cross the boarder, although the
countries around us don't require it. The ELT is only mandatory for the
split second we are actually crossing the boarder, we don't need it before
reaching the boarder, and not after we have passed it.
Why we need it is a mystery, in this heavily populated country it is
impossible to crash your airplane without numerous people noticing it and
complaining about the damage it caused on their property.
Oh wait, we also have a lot of water around us! Too bad then that we have to
install a fixed ELT, with a mandatory switch on the instrument panel and
associated wiring, making it impossible to remove the ELT in a hurry, so to
guarantee that it will sink together with the airplane and beep its silly
signals to the fishes rather than to the satellites.
Well, there is also a good side to this country: Today I received the first
bunch of official documents for my airplane, never having had an inspector
nor a certified mechanic even in the neighbourhood of my airplane. :-)
Big grin day is getting close. :-)
Frans
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
14:33:00
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