PowerFLARM® Portable

PowerFLARM Portable

General Description

PowerFLARM® Portable is for aircraft where a behind the panel installation is not possible, the PowerFLARM® Portable is available for flexible fitting. This device incorporates a display as well as a control knob and can easily be placed e.g. on the glareshield.

Note that Portable is available in an EUROPE and AMERICAS version. The EUROPE version runs in Europe, Africa and New Zealand. The AMERICAS version runs in North and South America, Australia and Israel. The hardware has built–in hardware frequency filters to the frequencies applicable in these regions. ADS–R and UAT are not supported.

What is FLARM?

FLARM is a traffic awareness and collision avoidance technology for General Aviation, light aircraft, and UAVs. With FLARM installed, you are alerted of both traffic and imminent collisions with other aircraft, so you can take action before it is too late.

Over 35,000 manned aircraft and many UAVs are already equipped with FLARM and the number is rapidly increasing. FLARM systems are available from several manufacturers for powered airplanes, helicopters, gliders, and UAVs.

Features

• FLARM functionality – sending out your position and vector and receiving vectors from gliders in range (about 4 miles)
• ADS–B Traffic Reception – ADS–B traffic position and relative altitude are displayed on the PowerFLARM display.
• Mode S Transponders – Nearby Mode S transponders are displayed on the PowerFLARM display. Since direction is not known, the traffic is displayed as a ring around the glider.
• Mode C Transponders – Nearby Mode C transponders are displayed on the PowerFLARM display. Since direction is not known, the traffic is displayed as a ring around the glider.
• 2nd FLARM Antenna Port Enabled (2nd antenna not included)
• Audio Output Enable – The built–in audio output port for sending FLARM alarms (beeps only) to an aviation headset is enabled by default.
• GPS Flight Recorder – Accepted by OLC, no IGC Approval or task declarations

What's in the Box?

• PowerFLARM Portable unit
• PFLARM–Ant–ADS–B–Rod-RP – ADS-B antenna
• PFLARM–Ant–FLARM–Rod–RP – FLARM Antenna

See & Be Seen by Everyone

Introduced over a decade ago, the original Classic FLARM devices have saved the lives of many glider pilots. Thanks to the success of FLARM, and because of more crowded airspace, FLARM has also been embraced by other aviation domains. Today, many powered airplanes, helicopters, and even low flying jet aircraft carry FLARM. There is no other technology as widely used in the lower airspace below FL100, outside large airports, than FLARM. Together with a general increase in high speed aircraft at lower altitudes, this changes the technical requirements for collision avoidance equipment to detect fast approaching aircraft in time. PowerFLARM was developed to specifically address these challenges.

PowerFLARM® makes aircraft that are hidden from old Classic FLARM visible. With a significantly increased range, radio performance improvements in all directions, and optional ADS–B and transponder data integration, PowerFLARM protects you from aircraft otherwise not visible in time.

Transponder and ADS–B Receiver

While many aircraft are already FLARM–equipped, there are still some that are not. With the optional transponder and ADS–B 1090ES receiver, available in select PowerFLARM® devices, you are protected from those aircraft as well. The additional receiver listens for intruders transmitting Mode–C, Mode–S, and ADS–B messages on 1090 MHz, and includes those aircraft in the smart trajectory prediction and collision warning algorithms. Since aircraft without FLARM cannot see you, it is all the more important that you can see them early to keep a safe distance.

Display

• New generation sunlight-readable Matrix TFT display
• Resolution 132 x 176 pixels
• 2″ diagonal screen

Power

• 12 V DC nominal (8–23V DC ) external
• 6 removable rechargeable AA batteries (exceptionally also non–rechargeable
• Up to 7.5h battery runtime, (depending upon traffic, temperature and type of battery)

Communication

• Internal RS232 NMEA0183 or GARMIN®–TIS
• Data output for Moving-Map units and external displays (only one user at a time!)
• internal 3V power supply for remote displays

Antennas

• Two 868–930MHz FLARMantennas (red marking): FLARM A (send/receive), FLARM B (receive only)
• ADS–B antenna (blue marking; receive only; non–“Pure” devices)
• Integrated GPS antenna under top of housing
• Optional: External GPS antenna (MCX socket)

Documents

• PowerFLARM® Portable User Manual PowerFLARM® Portable User Manual

Links

• FLARM Configuration Tool

• Radio Range FLARM Analysis Tool

• Sailplane FLARM Mode S Address Lookup (enter you N number)

Technical Specifications

  PowerFLARM® Core PowerFLARM® Portable
Type Installed Portable
Display Separate Integrated Color LCD
Recommended for All aircraft types Personal use in all GA aircraft
Dimensions 41 x 80 x 120 mm 46 x 96 x 94 mm
Mass 245 g (Pure) / 285 g (ADS–B) 260 g w/o batteries
Power supply 12–32 V DC 8–23 V DC
Power consumption 165 mA @ 12 VDC 175 mA @ 12 VDC
Data ports, Storage 2 (D–sub DE–9 and RJ45), USB 1 (RJ45), Micro SD
Transponder/ADS–B 1090ES receiver Optional Included

Compare and Decide

 
CORE
PURE
CORE
ADS–B
PORTABLE
ADS–B
Part number, EU version FLAPFD11E FLAPFC11E FLAPFP24E
Part number, US version FLAPFD11A FLAPFC11A FLAPFP24A
Integrated display    
Yes
Built–in GPS Antenna    
Yes
Second FLARM Receiving Antenna1
Optional
Optional
Optional6
Option to run on batteries (6 AA; not included)    
Yes
SSR 1090 MHz Receiver (Mode A/C/S)  
Yes
Yes
ADS–B 1090 MHz Receiver
Yes
Yes
USB port for data readout and updates
Yes
Yes
 
microSD Card slot for data readout and updates    
Yes
Data port #1, 8P8C/RJ45
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data port #2, D–sub DE–9
Yes
Yes
 
5V 500mA output for ext. devices (on USB port)
Yes
Yes
 
External Audio Output
Optional
Optional
Yes
IGC Flight Recorder Approval2
Yes
Yes
Optional
Engine Noise Level (ENL) Recording3
Optional
Optional
Optional
Garmin® TIS Interface
Optional
Optional
Optional
Obstacle Database with Warnings4
Optional
Optional
Optional
EASA Minor Change Approval (MCA)5
Optional
Optional
Optional

1Additional Antenna and License; 2Up to and including Diamonds; 3Requires IGC Flight Recorder Approval option; 4Available for selected regions; 5Available for selected aircraft types; 6License included

Tripled Detection Range

With higher power and more sensitive radio receivers, range is increased for both sender and receiver, from around 3 km for old Classic FLARM to typically more than 10 km for PowerFLARM®. When approaching a fast–moving aircraft with 250 kt (463 km/h) head–on, more than 5 km radio range is needed for a useful warning. PowerFLARM® enables a timely detection of fast moving aircraft, making it possible for you to take resolutive action in time.

Dual Antenna Diversity

Just like transponder signals, FLARM range is limited by radio line–of–sight. This means that especially a metal or carbon fiber aircraft (as well as equipment of these materials) will shield the signal. With only one antenna, the view is limited to one direction only, away from such materials. PowerFLARM® features two radio transceivers for two separate antennas. Aircraft approaching you from behind or below will thus no longer be hidden

Better Interference Protection

The use of mobile phones and other portable electronic devices in aircraft has increased in the last years. Old Classic FLARM has limited protection against these signals, which could lead to FLARM radio signals not being received. PowerFLARM® comes with built–in interference protection, keeping unwanted signals out and at the same time boosting the desired FLARM signals.

Intuitive Obstacle Warnings

FLARM warns when flying towards or near known obstacles, be it powerlines, cable cars, or large antennas. The database with tens of thousands of obstacles can be purchased online. Exclusively in PowerFLARM®, lateral buffers are used for line objects like power lines, so flying parallel yields better warning behavior. The forecasted trajectories are more dynamic – no warnings will be issued when circling in proximity unless very close. Smart displays receive an obstacle ID so they can suppress repetitive warnings where required, e.g. for helicopter air–work.

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