If you already fly with FLARM and want better visibility and longer-range traffic awareness, adding a PilotAware FX provides a much bigger picture of what’s ahead — without changing how you fly or how your FLARM system works.
You keep FLARM exactly as it is, but you massively increase what you can detect.
The PilotAware FX unlocks the full PilotAware infrastructure (Direct Detection, ATOM GRID, SkyGRID™ and iGRID), giving you:
In short:
FLARM gives you tactical close-in collision avoidance.
PilotAware FX + the PilotAware Matrix adds strategic awareness many kilometres ahead.
Together they dramatically extend your horizon.
Once tried you won’t want to fly without it.
If you have an existing FLARM installation in a glider, light aircraft or helicopter, adding a PilotAware FX immediately increases interoperability, traffic visibility, and range.
FX does not replace FLARM — instead, it enhances it.
You keep your normal FLARM collision-avoidance logic, but gain far more detection capability, range and information through the PilotAware Matrix.
When FX is added in-line between your FLARM unit and your cockpit display, you gain a richer traffic picture combining:
All received via Direct Aircraft-to-Aircraft Detection.
This forms the baseline before adding ground-based or network-based enhancements such as ATOM GRID, SkyGRID™ or iGRID.
PilotAware FX becomes dramatically more powerful when connected to:
These layers add long-range detection, improve redundancy, and increase awareness in areas where standard FLARM would struggle because of terrain, airframe shadowing or signal blocking.
ATOM GRID extends your sight far beyond direct air-to-air detection.
It rebroadcasts FLARM and Mode-S/3D on the PilotAware frequency, greatly increasing the type of and the range at which you see other aircraft. In the UK there is a very mature network of over 370 ATOM stations providing multiple station connectivity in most areas where gliders and GA aircraft operate. Users are encouraged to install stations where needed with the help of PilotAware subsidy.
If you link PilotAware FX then you will get direct detection of Flarm aircraft close in plus the ATOM grid will show you gliders much further away and fill in the gaps as gliders around you come and go due to signal blocking from the pilot or airframe.
When assisted by the ATOM network you will also detect and see Mode-S transmissions (transponders) from aircraft that you would otherwise not see electronically.
* Latency measured from detection → processing→ rebroadcast → reception.
†Depending on SSR interrogation rate
This means gliders, that would normally appear up to 5–10 km away, will now appear at up to 20km away,giving you a strategic view of thermals, gaggles, task traffic and tug activityahead — something FLARM alone cannot provide.
SkyGRID extends situational awareness into remote or mountainous areas where ground coverage is limited.
SkyGRID™ can be thought of as the ATOM GRID in the sky, filling in gaps in the overall Matrix network to help aircraft obscured by mountains, other obstacles and weather see each other.
SkyGRID™ is especially valuable when ridge soaring, mountain flying, wave flying or operating in remote areas — especially during land outs.
SkyGRID gives you resilience and confidence when flying low or in mountainous areas.
If there’s no ground coverage, nearby aircraft become airborne data relays — and when you are high, so do you.
When your FX is connected to your phone/tablet hotspot, you gain an additional layer of enhanced traffic services, drone locations and weather overlay onto your screen.
All aircraft within 60kms are shown on the PilotAware RADAR screen and most Electronic Flight Bags such as SkyDemon, EasyVFR etc., via your connected smart tablet or phone. No additional SIM card required.
Weather radar (rain layer) can be selected to allow more reliable navigation and safe flight.
iGRID is particularly useful to see single and multiple gliders flying dynamically either solo or in competitions at up to 60kms distant. This gives you the choice to avoid the area or capitalise on the advantage to extend your flight.
iGRID overwhelmingly enhances strategic situational awareness. It is particularly useful for route planning, detecting remote or low-level traffic, and delivering updates even when outside ATOM coverage.
A low cost PilotAware FX to your existing Flarm device continues to provide predictive, tactical, close-in collision avoidance — what it does best.
With PilotAware FX and the PilotAware Matrix you gain:
PilotAware is EC built for the way that you fly now and ready for the future.
Installing a PilotAware FX in your cockpit will integrate your existing equipment to enhance your sense-and-avoid and enhanced situational awareness.
The diagram below shows how you can implement full interoperability between all the major EC types used in Europe and provide Flight information services to a wide range of in cockpit screens.
Team PilotAware Nov 2025