Another glider thread

Inverted25

Inverted25

Well-Known Member
Ok so the other day there was some pretty good cloud coverage but I had the tow pilot tow me up above them because there was plently of openings to get back down through. But it got me thinking. Can gliders fly IFR. And the answer is yes. If you have a powered instrument rating you can use it in the glider. Not really sure how that would work. Guessing just mostly as a hey I'm stuck up here and I'm going to fall through that deck of clouds before me so I'd thought I'd let you know type thing.

Funny part is under IFR currency it says for gliders you must have three hours of simulated or actual IFR in the past 6 months to be able to carry passengers in IFR. I'm not even sure how you would pull that off. All our gliders do not have the neccessary instruments to be able to fly IFR. Has anyone who soars here actually seen a glider decked out for IFR?
 
I've flown several self-launch gliders that were equipped for IFR flight. Instrument flying in gliders is far more common in Europe. There are several references to glider/sailplane flying on the EASA's website and the equipment and regulatory requirements are different than for airplanes. It seems that the only practical purpose of being able to fly by reference to instruments in a glider is to climb/descend through a cloud layer.
 
In Switzerland you can`t fly IFR (IMC) with a glider, but you need an IFR license to fly in Class A airspace, you are not gonna fly IFR!!! you keep flying the way you always do but you stay in touch with ATC and sometimes you take vectors for traffic. In Europe class A can be as low as 2000-3000 feet AGL.
 
That makes alot more sense. What about in the United States? Do you have to be IFR certified to be able to take a glider above 18,000. I know in a airplane you do. But since the FAA doesnt offer a instrument rating for gliders like they do overseas, how would a glider only pilot get the instrument rating? Around here we dont have thermals strong enough to take us that high, but someone ridge soaring could easily pass 18,000.
 
Inverted25 said:
That makes alot more sense. What about in the United States? Do you have to be IFR certified to be able to take a glider above 18,000.
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No, you don't need an IFR ticket. You do need permission though.

In places where it isn't common to go into the flight levels (like New England), call Center on the phone and ask what they want you to do. Sometimes they will give you an LOA for "wave windows," stipulating visibility, cloud clearance, and transponder requirements. Or not. Depends on their mood and how nicely you ask I guess.

We have an LOA with approach here to get around some airspace issues (where we operate isn't a factor for IFR arrivals/departures).
 
There is a way to take a glider over FL180 in the U.S. with no LOA - do it in Hawaii! :)
 
People have always talked about building a 2 seat airplane with long wings, and getting a DAR to buy off on it being a motorglider. Then, you get around the whole sport pilot medical issue, and you can fly IFR. Not a bad idea, IMO, but I'm not sure that it would be easy to get done.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
People have always talked about building a 2 seat airplane with long wings, and getting a DAR to buy off on it being a motorglider. Then, you get around the whole sport pilot medical issue, and you can fly IFR. Not a bad idea, IMO, but I'm not sure that it would be easy to get done.
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AMT-200 Super XIMANGO in Brazil they fly it day IFR (you can`t fly single engine night IFR in Brazil) too

I know a guy that flew one around the world

http://www.ximangousa.com
 
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