ChrisN
If you persist in your current approach and attitude, I would not be surprised to find an article on the lines of the following in one of the tabloids somtime in the future.......
"Reckless Glider Pilots Endanger Airliners
By A. Reptile, Staff Writer
Passengers travelling on airliners expect the highest possible levels of safety and may assume that they are travelling in an environment where risks are reduced to the minimum.
However, research by the Daily Bugle shows that there is a serious risk to airliners, caused by a reckless minority of glider pilots who deliberately fly in clouds without establishing radio communications with air traffic control.
Airlines are equipped with electronic devices that show air traffic controllers where they are and what height they are flying at. When aircraft are flying in cloud, the pilots rely on air traffic controllers to instruct them where to fly safely.
However, some glider pilots refuse to talk to air traffic control, because they say that the rules do not oblige them to do this. They also decline to carry the electronic devices that allow air traffic controllers to track them like airliners, because they are said to be too expensive. Also, glider pilots do not have to train for an instrument rating to fly in clouds, unlike airline pilots, which we find amazing.
This means that your airline flight could be endangered by a reckless glider pilot and the Daily Bugle has discovered that the law currently allows no action to be taken against them.
The Bugle is starting a petition to change this archaic law, which dates back to times when there was a lot less air traffic than today and we encourage you to complete the coupon below and send it to us.
We will make sure that this petition is delivered to the Prime Minister and we will not remain silent on this issue until he takes positive action to close this legal loophole and bringing gliding under the control of the CAA, just like airlines are."