The proposals go way beyond just gliders which are currently exempt from the requirement to carry a transponder above FL100. The current proposals will require ANY aircraft operating in controlled airspace (crossing a class D zone for instance) to have a mode S transponder.
The new rules also allow for the creation of transponder mandatory zones (TMZs) which can be put around as well as below current controlled airspace to act as a buffer, any aircraft operating in these zones will also require a mode S transponder. If these zones are applied for (and they surely will be) we could find that any aircraft, glider, or microlight (many of which do not have electric systems at all) will need to carry a mode S transponder to operate near or underneath any controlled airspace, think about the area the London TMA covers. The cost, including installation, is going to run into thousands of pounds for each aircraft and having seen the CAA presentation on the subject I am far from convinced that they have a valid case.
Everyone involved in light aviation in the UK needs to fight tooth and nail to shoot down these proposals and make the CAA think again. You can read the proposals here:
http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?ca...90&pageid=9307
and lodge your response here:
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.asp...pe=65&appid=37
The British Gliding Association are not surprisingly very vocal about it and have an excellent web page on the subject:
http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/airspace/modes2008.htm
If you operate any sort of light aircraft a little time spent looking at this lot and coming up with a reasonable response could save you a great deal of money, go to it.