Fox Two wrote:
Thanks for the quick reply, Terry. As an ATP and instrument rated CFI,
I'm intimately familiar with the applicable IFR regs as they apply to
airplanes. Mr. Reesor specifically mentioned "glider" (not
motorglider) when he discussed both pilot and aircraft requirements to
fly in conditions less than VMC, and it is those regs that I'm looking
for.
[edit]
The original
two questions remain: Which regs require

1. a pilot to be instrument rated in single-engine airplanes and also
have a glider rating ... to fly a glider in clouds, and

2. gliders flying on instruments are required to have a full gyro
panel.

Judgment issues aside, Mr. Reesor appears to be quoting regs. As far
as this thread is concerned, I would like to know what is legal; not
necessarily safe, or smart!

Chris Fleming, F2
El Paso, Texas

================================================== ==============
If only it were simple, Chris. It is a bunch of regulations together to
answer your two questions. So I will try to list them in the order that
they appear in the regulation, and I am ready for any arrows to come my
way. I am an examiner and, like you, an ATP with CFI-IA-ASE-G.

First, the certification requirements, as I stated befo
The certification requirments are described in 14CFR Part 61. In order
to operated under IFR, you need an instrument rating (61.3(e)).

According to 61.5(b)(6), instrument ratings are only available to
holders of private and commercial pilots with one of these categories:
(i) airplane; (ii) helicopter, or (iii) powered lift. Since there is no
glider in the list, you must also hold at least one of these categories
in order to comply with 61.3(e). Airplane Single Engine Land with an
Instrument Airplane rating would work. You as an ATP already know that
certificate replaces your instrument rating.

You would also need to meet the recency of experience requirements listed
in 61.57(c) in order to fly IFR.

Note that this regulation does add special rules for glider pilots in
61.57(c)(2) which specifies that airplane instrument experience is OK
for some of the requirements only if not carrying passengers, otherwise
the time must be in a glider.

For the equipment requirements, 91.205 describes the requirements for
POWERED aircraft, which does not apply to pure gliders but will to what
we call motorgliders. In order to operate under IFR your aircraft must
be authorized by its type certificate to do so. This will be noted in
your flight manual. Without that, operations under IFR would be in
violation of 91.9(a) which requires you to fly in accordance with your
ship's manual.

Full gyro panel? Well it again depends. The list in 91.205(d) applies
to a Ximango or other airplane-like gliders if the type certificate
allows instrument flight. Otherwise, it is whatever the manufacturer
states. For instance, the SGS 2-33 that is so often derided here,
allows flight with just an airspeed indicator according to the
"Flight-Erection-Maintenance Manual," but specifically prohibits
instrument flight regardless of instrumentation. The Grob G103 states
that VFR Day is approved, but then lists minimum equipment for both
cockpit seats of airspeed and altimeter.

So the answer to your second question is either 91.203 AND the
AFM----OR---just the AFM.

I hope that is clearer and with better grammar than the last one.

Terry Claussen
Estrella