While the training you could get in the UK would be of benefit if you
"inadvertently" get caught in cloud, you still could not legally fly a
glider in clouds in the US. Note that if the FAA learned that you'd
been caught in a cloud, they could very well take certificate action
against you for violating cloud clearance regulations.

Note further that to fly in clouds in the US the pilot has to have an
instrument rating and there is no such thing for gliders in the US. The
aircraft also has to be certified for flight in IMC which includes such
mundane things as a certified attitude indicator, altimeter, gyro
compass (maybe), pitot/static checks, etc.

Training would be helpful if you remain unaware of your surroundings but
I maintain that part of being pilot in command is being sure that that
doesn't happen. Having said that, I have a TruTrac mounted in my panel
and have a boat load of training and actual IMC flying and I still
wouldn't give myself a 100% chance of coming out the bottom or side of a
cloud in straight and level flight given the circumstances that started
this thread.

Good flying!

On 4/18/2015 7:02 AM, Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Sat, 18 Apr 2015 03:57:30 -0700, son_of_flubber wrote:

Does anyone in the UK offer glider cloud flying training for visiting
USA licensed glider pilots?
I don't know about the situation for visiting pilots at my club but then
again I don't think any have asked. I have no idea how you'd get the
cloud flying rating added to an American license or whether it would be
recognised by the FAA.

Some of our instructors are teaching cloud flying in our Schreibe SF-25
in preparation the introduction of EASA licensing. There is a BGA cloud
flying qualification which is not currently required, but its worth
getting prior to EASA licensing because it will be grandfathered onto the
EASA license: getting it after the license is issued will incur a charge
for adding the rating.



--
Dan Marotta