On Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 1:56:11 PM UTC-4, 2KA wrote:
... For starters, gliders are totally exempt from both the ADS-B OUT and transponder mandates.

Is that really true? The way I am reading the mandate, ADS-B OUT will be required for gliders that operate inside the Mode-C veil and above 10,000 feet. I know that doesn't apply to most of us, but there are at least several operations in the West that will be directly impacted. I'd love to be mistaken about this.

See https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.225

The relevant section is 91.225(e). It specifically permits operation of gliders without being ADS-B OUT equipped inside the Mode C veil and above 10,000 ft as long as you are not operating in Class A, B, or C airspace. Note: You also can not operate above Class B airspace in a glider if you are not ADS-B OUT equipped.

Another interesting requirement is that above 18,000 ft, you need to be 1090ES ADS-B OUT equipped. While the statute permits you to operate with an ATC waiver, there is no guarantee that this will be authorized. It's up to the local ATC jurisdiction to make the call. It will be interesting to see how this is handled with Wave windows. Hopefully the downward pricing trends of UAT ADS-B OUT equipment will also put pressure on 1090ES vendors to sharpen their pencils. If I were planning on flying in Wave, I would probably look pretty hard at using a 1090ES solution vs. a lower cost UAT transmitter.