In article eCzwb.6342$ML6.2557@fed1read01,
"BTIZ" wrote:

that is the rule.. for the insurance company..

and I don't know of any "smart" instructor that would allow any student to
fly solo on any given day without the instructor knowing it and reviewing
that the student is prepared, has a plan, and has reviewed the weather and
forecast changes for the next few hours.

the student is flying on the instructors ticket.. (power or glider)

Here in New Zealand, being able to fly without an instructor on the
field is a relatively advanced rating. Traditionally, quite a large
number of things have been independently signed off in your logbook --
ratings for particular aircraft, front seat passenger rating, back seat
passenger rating, cross country rating, aerobatics rating, independent
operations rating, etc.

A few years ago the powers here rolled a number of these into a single
"Qualified glider pilot" endorsement but I notice that my logbook is now
endorsed:

Qualified Glider Pilot approved for independent operations.
Approved for independent cross-country operations (list of types).

I don't know for sure, but this leads me to believe that it might be
possible to have the "Qualified Glider Pilot", but still fly only when
an instructor is present on the field.

In any case, "present" means something like: was there in the morning,
discussed your plans (which might simply be "local soaring"), talked
about anything unusual about the day's weather (and for newbies, check
if they've flown in similar weather, and perhaps give a quick check
flight), and the weather hasn't changed too much since then.

It's perfectly OK for the instructor to be off-field at lunch, or in
another glider, or in the tow plane or the workshop (i.e. they might not
be "on duty" as an instructor, but simply qualified as an instructor).

-- Bruce