I'm not sure that squawk code 1201 will ever be required for "VFR
gliders out of contact with ATC", the way 1200 is for aircraft flying
VFR and not in radio contact with ATC. But 1201 is now officially
reserved for gliders in that condition, and thus ATC facilities are
alerted that 1201 has a specific meaning.

Your point of who is responsible to start US gliders using 1201 is a
good one, though. In previous posts on this thread it was stated that
this should be decided locally, and it seems that remains the best way
forward for now. I agree it would be nice for clearer advice from the
FAA.

-John

On Apr 5, 10:58 pm, Jim Logajan wrote:
Wait-a-minute!

But isn't the quoted document an FAA internal order to its ATO service
units? The section labeled "Audience" no where indicates this is a
regulatory requirement to gliders having transponders. If there is a
regulatory document where this is made clear, that would be helpful and
more convincing.

In fact the following order, dated February 11, 2010, doesn't list 1201 or
any special treatment of gliders with transponders:

http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publi...C/atc0502.html

While gliders with transponders in the Reno Nevada area may now be required
to use 1201, I can find no official publication by the FAA to support the
assertion that VFR glider pilots in the rest of the nation are now required
(or even allowed or advised) to use 1201 on an installed transponder.

In fact while searching I found that 1201 was recently used as one of the
beacon codes in the TFR of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

(Unless the FAA is now relying on Web viral postings and blogs as its new
means of publishing regulations? Very hip of them!)