On Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 6:29:12 PM UTC-7, wrote:
On Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 10:30:16 AM UTC-6, 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…

I will adopt ADS-B into my glider when it becomes economical to do so. I cannot justify spending 3-4 thousand dollars on my $12,000 Libelle. Until then I will use the see and avoid method and continue to monitor different frequencies when flying through that particular airspace. Just my thoughts.

I'm not sure why you are discussing ADS-B Out and $3k-$4k costs?

Price of a state of the art transponder is ~$2k or so (plus installation, but the altitude encoder is included) for a Trig TT22.

Of course $2k or so is still a significant cost, but lets keep it real and not pile on ADS-B costs when discussing what are really transponder issues.

In an airliner (or many fast jets) vs glider scenario TCAS provides a wonderful traffic awareness and collision avoidance tool to that other aircraft, and only relies in the "threat" aircraft having a transponder (Mode C or S) . ATC also can see and will continue to see gliders equipped with transponders on SSR in critical busy airspaces, especially that Class E airspace hiding airliners and fast jets.