On Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 7:30:16 PM UTC+3, Sean Fidler wrote:
I just listened to this news on a major news network and pseudo confirmed it he http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1374687

The newsperson actually said, "Why didn't this glider have a transponder, why wasn't this glider talking to someone, how is this possible…" live on the air.

I continue to believe that the sailplane community needs to fully adopt ADSB and transponders whenever outside of 3 miles of the airport (for basic training). Getting an exemption was a big mistake. Sailplane flying cross country, near major airspace, or at high altitudes should absolutely have ADSB and/or 250 watt transponders.

The awful scenario we are all worried about IS going to happen eventually.. Its simply a matter of: A) was the gliding community pro safety or B) was the gliding community defiant and trying to wiggle out of safety and make special exceptions for itself.

When IT happens, the result will be unfortunate if we are still on the B path, as we are now…

Those of us in other countries marvel that gliders in the USA don't have transponders. And that you still fly 2-33s and think basic trainer Grobs are high performance, of course.

I'd have thought that within 3 or 5 or whatever miles of the airport (or more at higher altitudes) would be *precisely* where you should have the transponder turned on.

I guess another surprising thing is that they allow IFR flights into class G airspace. That's the place you should have a right to fly without a transponder and the big guys should be kept away.