In Germany and in Switzerland, the principle of glider flying in clouds is
that you know that there is a glider at a precise position in that cloud,
and that there is no other glider/aircraft at the same position. In Germany,
an ATC clearance and a fligh plan is mandatory. In Switzerland, you can flow
only in areas which are allocated for cloud flying, and you have to
blind-radio your precise position twice on a frequency allocated for cloud
flying before you enter the cloud.

That all work of course only if there isn't a butthead who enters a cloud
"just because he feels like". I wouldn't say that cloud flying is common
practise in Germany, and in Switzerland it's rather used for training
purposes than for x-country.

"T o d d P a t t i s t" wrote in message
...
"Fox Two" wrote:
Yes, and that's why it's so tough trying to decide how
glider cloudflying in class G might be treated. It seems to
be handled in other countries in a way that gives some US
trained airplane instrument pilots the willies - and a 91.13
charge would probably be initiated by someone with exactly
that background - not a glider background, and certainly not
a glider instrument background.

I'm trying to work with the system to get an IFR clearance to
operate an IFR-equipped glider in Class A airspace without a waiver.
This is an exercise of legality and good judgement.

This is something that I understand some glider pilots have
managed to do fairly routinely I've read several reports of
it in both the west and from wave off the eastern ridges.

Thanks for your comments.
--
T o d d P a t t i s t - "WH" Ventus C
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