What is FANET?
The “Flying ad-hoc Network” (FANET) offers the ability to automatically
interconnect flight instruments w/o the need of any infrastructure. It is intended to be an open standard which operates worldwide on a license-free radio frequency. Additionally
base stations can exchange data with the mobile instruments for example wind information. Those stations will typically be placed close to take-off and landing sites and will also be able to forward position information required for live-tracking to the Internet.
As well as wind information broadcasted by the base stations a pilot can also see other pilots’ data using this technology. Depending what information the remote pilot wants to share and depending on local filter settings the information are displayed in a well-structured manner.
The communication distance of up to 20km (12 miles) automatically gets doubled once other intermediate glider are present. Those pilots using FANET act as a relay and forward information. FANET has many more services than pure tracking. It supports search-and-rescue, short messaging and much more to come.
FANET becomes FANET+
Every flight instrument manufactured by Skytraxx with build in FANET will also include
FLARM. FANET already aids flight planning and safety and
by including FLARM the pilot is visible not only to FANET equipped aircraft but to all FLARM aircraft aswell. All FLARM equipped gliders, helicopters or powered aircrafts can detect FANET+ device at a very early stage and plan their flight path in order to avoid a collision.
Skytraxx 3.0 latest update v3.0.10 features a new air traffic widget where you can display other aircrafts from OGN (requires WiFi) and FANET. The Flight Screen selector in the Settings menu now features a new ‘Traffic’ example flight screen theme.
What is FLARM?
Flight-Alarm (FLARM) is well known in the glider and powered aircraft domain. Based on accurate GPS position information and various other techniques
it can reliable predict a flight trajectory. This information is encrypted, broadcasted and used to aid in
collision risk calculations.
More than 30,000 manned aircrafts and many UAVs are equipped with FLARM today. In Europe almost 100% of the gliders are equipped with FLARM.
Variometer device intergration By SKYTRAXX
The delivery of FANET+ High End Variometers devices – marked ‘FANET ready’ – is since October 2017 possible (Skytraxx 3.0, Skytraxx 2.0+) as well as the modification of existing equipment (be it 2.0+ or 3.0).
FANET+ not only offers safety features by the integration of FLARM beaconing and emergency messaging, but it also visualizes other pilots on the display of your flight instrument. Moreover, it allows for comfort features like free live tracking through the already existing open glider network (OGN), or by the exchange of short messaging. Currently Skytraxx is in conversation with other manufacturers (for instrument as well as for weather stations). So for the next season expect new features and more interactions with others.
