Originally Posted by
Fuji Abound
I dont know what the average glider POH says - is a glider specifically approved by its manufacturer for operations in IMC...
I doubt any airframe manufacturer certifies their aircraft for flight in IMC. For flight under IFR yes, but for flying near a cloud??? (depending on the airspace)
Not withstanding the technicality, your point is correct. However, it does seem fairly common for gliders to soar in clouds (after all there is good lift there) so I would be very surprised if glider POHs in general prohibited cloud flying, or require anything more than a modest set of gyros.
Back to the point.
I think people have shown-
- There is a significant risk of glider/glider collision (and FLARM seems a good product to address this)
- There is good evidence that there is a powered/powered risk at low levels and in the circuit (and with recent incidents, even radios and ATC don't eliminate this risk), In addition the range of powered aircraft involved is quite large from Microlights to Fast Jets - but almost always under 1500 feet.
- There is some evidence of Glider/Power collision risk at altitude and the current approach to equipage and rules doesn't address this with anything other than big sky (think about the time you have to make a manoeuvre and how violent that manoeuvre is if you see a target at 1 mile closing at 300-350 knots).
- There is unfortunately compelling evidence that even with the best technology available, CAT can still hit each other enroute- so at the GA level this isn't ever going to be a risk free game.
- Most of the text has been about collision risk in IMC - and this just doesn't seem to happen (probably because there are a lot less aircraft flying in IMC than VMC)
My conclusion is the powered guys have a set of challenges that need answers and the glider guys do - but at low level those answers are probably different. It is at high altitude, mixing with high speed aircraft where the glider/power conversation is relevant - and due to airspace, that doesn't really seem to happen in the UK. Unless IMC traffic density increases a lot, we probably have a lot of better things to worry about than a glider/power collision in IMC at 2500 feet.