Re. Can you see me now?

There are a few problems with fitting transponders.
I fly from a very active gliding site betwen two busy
airfields and under the main airway. On a typical
busy summer weekend, particularly if we have a competition
taking place, we can easily have 60 to 100 gliders
beeing launched between 10.30 and 12.30 to fly cross
country. they will then return later in the day. On
top of this we have training and local club flying
taking place.(30 plus gliders)
If all of this lot were using transponders it would
totally blitz the screens of the ATC. They would then
say that there was a safety issue as they could not
deal with all the returns and want a reduction in traffic.
Three guesses on which section of the airspace users
the axe would fall. ( the fact that we dont require
controlling never seems to cross the official mind)
Apart from the cost of actually fitting transponders
we would probably be required to contribute to the
cost of services we dont need.

We have a very good relationship with local airfields
and ATC and work very efficiently together. Compulory
fitting of transponders would jepordise this.

Incidentally we had a visit by the new head of our
local ATC a couple of weeks ago. We were in the process
of launching a competition grid with 7 tugs. Radio
calls were kept to a minimum, ie no calls for downwind,
turning finals etc. Everbody concentrated on LOOKING
OUT and flying tug type circuits. About 70 gliders
were launched (or 140 air movements) in just over an
hour, in safety without any problems. At first she
was aghast but after watching for a while realised
that each pilot was taking there own responsibility
for spacing in the circuit and separation outside that.

The only potential conflict was when a Piper from elsewhere
decided to fly directly over the airfield at about
2000ft. We were operating the winch between aero tows
to about that height.

Nigel