For the umpteenth time, yes, SOME gliders can have transponders, and SOME of those have fitted them. SOME OTHERS, like mine could physically have a transponder, but EASA at present prevents it.
AND A LOT OF GLIDERS cannot and never will have.
I can’t really believe ST does not understand, but I don’t know why he keeps hammering the point that SOME gliders have transponders, as if that means all could.
Chris I would not support a proposal that all gliders regardless of whether they fly in IMC or VMC have to have transponders.
The ones who want to fly in cloud should be equipt to a certain standard and their pilots should be trained to a glider pilot specific IMCR.
In VMC we fly see and avoid in clouds we cannot. In powered flight there are rules as to who can or cannot operate in clouds. As an ATP I could go out and buy myself A Europa. I could build it, spend a fortune on avionics. Would the CAA allow me to fly it in clouds? NO. Could I argue that gliders have exceptions so why not me?
On the other hand as a glider pilot I can buy an old wreck of a glider with minimal instrument flying instrumentation. I can have NO radio, little IMC flying experience and I can fly blind to all in clouds to my hearts content.
Is that a level playing field between power and gliders? is that fair morally never mind from a safety aspect?
Because see and avoid is a non starter in cloud flying there should be regulations to stop aircraft and pilots who are not equipt to be there from being there.
Like the example of the Europa in powered flight if the glider cannot meet the required standards and the same with the pilot it should be legally limited to day VMC ONLY. There is no valid or fair arguement for otherwise.
There is a fair arguement that gliders cannot fly normal VFR rules. To force them to do so would destroy the sport. We as power pilots know gliders maybe lurking in cloudbases so to be allowed to fly to glider specific VFR rules maybe FLARM should be looked at for all gliders.
Flarm is a good option for VMC gliders and an extra backup for IMC gliders but unless regulated as a requirement for all powered and non powered it can give a false sense of security.
Pace