Larry.. it's been a few years since I've been on the ATC side of the radar..
but "we" had to monitor "primary" returns when working low altitude sectors,
Below FL180. I've listened in on the local TRACON ATC frequency when flying
in the "airline approach area" and yes, they are issuing "traffic, altitude
unknown, could be a glider", and I did not call them first to give them a
heads up. This has been in Grob 103s and LS-4, fiberglass with metal pushrod
controls.

Becker Transponders are very popular with glider pilots, I missed on the
price.. it's closer to $1900 plus antenna and install.
http://www.beckerusa.com/products/de...php?search=557



B


"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:27:54 -0700, "BT" wrote
in :

Larry.. DO you fly gliders?

Not in several years.

From these statements it would appear that you do not.
Gliders may or may not have electrical systems, they do not "generate
power", but stored battery power of a limited life span.
Gliders are small, batteries are small, everything needs to be small.


None of the gliders I have flown have had electrical systems, small or
otherwise.

NTSB "recommends", FAA cannot mandate without a comment period and a
change
to many CFRs.

True, but I'm thinking that it is in our best interest to provide some
guidance to the FAA before they draft their NPRM; hopefully proactive
will be better than reactive.

Technology is coming for the small transponder, along with ATS-B.

Are you able to provide any specific information about that
technology?

Why would I put a 50# $15K ATS-B system in a $15K glider.

Of course, it's worse than that. There would need to be antennas,
cabling, batteries, switches, circuit breakers, ammeter, ... It
wouldn't be very cost effective to equip gliders used for training
with all that, not to mention the resulting degraded flight
performance and maintenance requirements.

Small transponders now are about $1300 plus antenna and installation. It
can
be done.

Can you provide more specific information about them?


My issue is not with TCAS equipped aircraft, but with smaller GA aircraft
that do not have TCAS, do not have a Garmin 430 with TIS (or equivalent)
and
are not talking to ATC. It does no good to have a transponder, when the
aircraft causing the traffic conflict is not talking to anyone. Just
sitting
there FDH and not even paying attention in the traffic pattern.


I'm not sure if there is a solution to that issue short of having a
control tower at _all_ fields. Have you got any ideas?

Last Saturday we had at least 4 transient aircraft attempt to land at the
airport with 15 to 20 knot tail winds, and against the flow of traffic.

While not very smart, it's not a violation of regulations, is it?

They could not even listen up to the radio to figure out the runway in
use,
or even look at a wind sock or a huge flag and see the 15knt winds and
make
up their own mind about the landing runway.

I find the level of competence, diligence, and responsibility of some
airmen to be disappointing, and it's not just the "hobby" pilots. One
wonders how they manage to pass their biennial flight reviews.


What makes you think a transponder in a glider would make any difference.