How do you explain the starkly contrasting attitudes (between UK/Germany/France and the USA) wrt equipping trainers? I'm grasping at straws when I raise the BGA vs. FAA/SSA/NTSB/AOPA regulatory approaches, but those approaches, and the regulations, and the equipment of trainers is quite different.. Perhaps the regulatory environment affects our attitudes and behavior, especially when so many regulations are known or taken to be bogus. (For example the FARs wrt oxygen use are known to be based on wrong and out-of-date scientific knowledge.)



A quick look at the (UK BGA) regulations shows using a parachute is a recommended practice, as is the use of an audio vario. However, radio is not mandated, nor FLARM. But radio is very (90%) common in the 100 or so gliders at my club. FLARM is present in 50% and increasing of cross country gliders, and 100% of the 11 club gliders. I think these things become expected - and as Martin pointed out, are safety issues in high traffic density airspace.



Paul