Home Of The FlareAssist Radar

Concerning 5G and Radar Altimeters:

“In the U.S., radar altimeters operate in what’s called C-band, a portion of the spectrum from 4.2 GHz to 4.4 GHz. The new 5G wireless signals reside nearby in the 3.7-3.98 GHz range. That’s close enough to give rise to concerns about signal interference.”

Excerpt from an article published by Forbes.com published November 4th, 2021.

FlareAssist(tm) Radar operates in the K-band of 18-27GHz, far removed from any potential for interference with 5G cellular.

Around the year 2005, the experimental aircraft community started development of products that rival what airline pilots have had in the cockpit for years. Enter the FlareAssist(tm) Radar Altimeter for the average light aircraft pilot. Development started in 2013, and 5 years and after many hundreds of hours in testing we released the production version.

The FlareAssist ™ RADAR Altimeter verbally announces your altitude through your headset, not a panel-mounted instrument.

Initially developed for seaplane flying where glassy water conditions are a challenge for any pilot, the FlareAssist(tm) RADAR Altimeter has been embraced by pilots of all types of aircraft, not just seaplanes. Here are a few examples where the FlareAssist(tm) RADAR Altimeter has been used:

Ultralight, Experimental, and Light Sport aircraft
Rotorcraft – Helicopters and AutoGyros
Night landings
CFI’s assisting student pilots with proper sight picture during landings

The FlareAssist(tm) RADAR Altimeter is contained in a small, lightweight, and water resistant housing mounted outside the aircraft, typically on a wing strut or fuselage hard point.

Power and audio from FlareAssist(tm) RADAR Altimeter are carried by a small cable to the interior of the aircraft. Power can be provided by a DC port (cig lighter) or wired to a panel switch / circuit breaker.

Audio connects to the pilots headset by a mini plug to MP3 jack or wired directly to the intercom. The FlareAssist(tm) may be installed on (or moved to) another aircraft with a simple calibration handled with pressing of a button on power up.

The FlareAssist(tm) RADAR Altimeter is available in two versions, with each version starting verbal calls at either 30′ or 100′ above the surface:

FlareAssist(tm) RADAR Altimeter

Model FA30	Calls start at 30'. Remaining calls at 20', 15', 10', 8', 6', 4', 3', 2', and 1'
Model FA100	Calls start at 100'. Remaining calls at 80', 60', 40', 20', 15', 10', 8', 6', 4', 3', 2', and 1'

FlareAssist+(tm) RADAR Altimeter
(with Gear Announcement)

Gear Announcement occurs at 60':
"Gear is Up for Water"
"Gear is Down for Runway"

Model FA+30	Gear Announcement at 60'. Altitude calls at 30', 20', 15', 10', 8', 6', 4', 3', 2', and 1'
Model FA+100	Gear Announcement at 60' with altitude calls at 100', 80', 40', 20', 15', 10', 8', 6', 4', 3', 2', and 1'

FlareAssist+(tm) RADAR Altimeter determines the landing gear position with a micro-switch or reed switch installed in the retraction system.

NOT APPROVED BY THE FAA. FlareAssist IS AN ADVISORY SYSTEM ONLY. THE PILOT SHOULD NOT UTILIZE FlareAssist TO PROVIDE PRIMARY ALTITUDE INDICATION FOR CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING FLARE AND LANDING, BUT SHOULD CONTINUE TO UTILIZE NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR WATER OR RUNWAY LANDINGS UTILIZING ALL AVAILABLE VISUAL AND INSTRUMENT INDICATIONS.

FlareAssist Radar Users Say:

FlareAssist on my Searey

I've got enough time in the airplane to where I'm pretty comfortable that I can get it down in normal circumstances. That being said, anytime I am faced with a challenge, I am truly thankful the FlareAssist Radar is onboard and I make sure it is turned on!

Dan McKenzie

Cocoa, FL

From a ferry pilot…

I've been flying Seareys since late 2017 and have amassed about 160 hours to date. In early March 2021 I flew a Searey over to your shop to have a Flare Assist device installed for the new owner.

I departed your airport for Zephyrhills, with a stop in Winter Haven for lunch and to refuel. The approach to land at Winter Haven was my first opportunity to execute a landing with Flare Assist and I think it worked 'as advertised.'

Just recently I completed a 15-hour cross-country in the same plane, departing Zephyrhills (KZPH) to Grosse Ile, Michigan (KONZ) for delivery to the new owner. I used Flare Assist during each of the legs and I think as I used it, my touchdowns became more consistent. I think that is because, in part, your EYES provide a pretty good reference to your height above the runway . . . but the audio feedback on altitude, COMBINED with the visual reference, allows you to 'fine tune' your runway contact and flare.

I would recommend Flare Assist to any Searey owner!

Bob Gibson

Clearwater, FL

My new Searey!

As a first time SeaRey owner and builder, I made the decision to incorporate the Flare Assist radar into my Experimental build to give me enhanced situational awareness for both land and sea operations. A simple audio call out over the planes intercom provides a very reliable radar input that is desired for glassy water landings and have found it to be extremely helpful in mastering two wheel landings in the SeaRey as well. I would highly recommend this product for any Experimental builder out there.

Rob Britts

Tampa, FL

FlareAssist Radar installed on a Seawind.

Seawind Installation

I purchased a FlareAssist Radar in April of 2020. I am building a second Seawind now and your radar altimeter will go into this build as well.

Matthew Johnson

Big Fork, MT

FlareAssist Radar installed on Nils Mantzoros Searey.

Searey Owner

I installed the FlaresAssist but did not get a chance to hardwire it in; I just plugged into the auxiliary port for power. I’m very impressed with how it works; definitely makes it easier to land on the river!

Nils Mantzoros

Mill Hall, PA

Lancair Evolution

I have had a chance to use the Flare Assist that we installed on our Lancair Evolution and it works great! It REALLY helps with night landings when the ground is closer than it seems. I am looking forward to greasing it on every time!

Kathy Velazco

Jonesboro, GA

I am still in the reconstruction process of my Searey VH YES. The reason I purchased the “Flare Assist” for my old/new bird wasn’t a hard decision, if you want to live! Being only a low hour seaplane pilot, we all know things can happen quickly when you get “busy” on a water landing. Naturally here in Australia we have an abundance of water strips. I have a lot of mates that do have more “water landing time” than myself and always the same approach to glassy water landings with the same “mantra” - be bloody careful and take your time with your descent in hand with your altimeter. The “Flare Assist” is the co-pilot that you need when you're in a seaplane (or land plane), but like all co-pilots you should always confirm and check. The “Flare Assist Product” is a “No Brainer” in my books, now you just need it also to have a dual facility to tell when the landing gear is up and down.

Phil Clare

Australia

Searey FlareAssist

I highly recommend the Flare Assist for your experimental amphibian aircraft. As a new to water flying pilot and Searey operator the FA is a very useful tool to have in your safety toolbox. It's audial function of altitude callouts allows the pilot to concentrate on the sight picture that landings on water require along with the all-important minimal descent rate. The FA has been helpful to assist me in developing the eye hand, motor memory skill needed to make a smooth safe touchdown. especially when landing on glassy, mirror like water. Works as advertised!

Ray Browning

Vero Beach, FL

FireBoss Fleet with FlareAssist Radar

As far as I am aware, all, if not most of the planes have had the FlareAssist installed. I have gotten great feedback from the pilots that have used them. As for my wing man and myself, we love it so far. We fought a fire near Bethel, AK a few days ago. We did about 36 scoops in roughly 2 hours. We were scooping in a river so glassy was not a problem, but as the dusk continued, we were scooping into the sun, which can greatly affect depth perception, and the flare assist was great in helping not waste waterway behind us.

Sinesio Amboni