Does the glider pilot need to be IFR certified to fly in the wave box?

Mike Schumann

"T o d d P a t t i s t" wrote in message
...
Thomas Borchert wrote:

On all the definitions of various air classes I've seen, all have stated
"prohibited for VFR" on the class A airspace.
Are you sure about this?
What's the source?

Personal experience. FL300 in a glider above Minden, NV, after
coordination with ATC and opening of their "wave box". Radio contact
required, too.

A "wave box" is glider pilot slang for a volume of Class A
airspace over a defined ground area that is subject to a
prearranged written waiver of some of the applicable IFR
rules. The waiver typically allows operations by VFR
equipped aircraft (no instrument rating required, no gyro
instruments required, etc.) but imposes other specific
requirements, such as: they must be radio equipped, must
continuously monitor a specific frequency and exit the "box"
within a period of time after ATC makes a phone call to a
defined telephone number, must be familiar with the rules of
the waiver that apply, etc.

The wave box remains Class A, and the operations are
technically still IFR, despite the waiver. The aircraft are
still under ATC control and other IFR flights are provided
separation services (by exclusion from the wave box). The
area is under the control of the "military desk" at ATC.
The guy sitting at the military desk opens and closes the
wave box for glider pilots and handles other prearranged and
defined block airspace assignments when the military wants
to play in the Class A airspace. If ATC wants the airspace
back, they call the defined phone number, which the waiver
mandates to be manned, the person at the phone calls the
gliders by radio, and since they are required to monitor and
be aware of their obligations, they then have a defined
period of time (typically 15 minutes) to descend.

The separation services and ATC control make this IFR flight
despite the waiver of many IFR rules, but it's about as
close to VFR flight in Class A as you can get.

--
Do not spin this aircraft. If the aircraft does enter a spin it will
return to earth without further attention on the part of the aeronaut.

(first handbook issued with the Curtis-Wright flyer)