Bill T says the FAA does not trust the instructors judgement. Have no idea, but the instructor can sign off a certificated pilot without a glider rating to act as PIC per FAA AC 61.31(d).

Agree with most of N97MT's comments. I would claim a devils advocate option on the statements about the glider applicant having a flight review to climb in his King AIr. The CFIG endorsing per AC61.31(d) is authorizing PIC operation of a glider only if that is what he fills in. It is not a flight review. The CFIG can restrict the time of the endorsement as has been recommended by the SSA for quite some time. This endorsement is not a flight review. It just lets the applicant go fly the glider legally.

The example cited becomes more of a concern to the FSDO Inspector or DPE if they issue a glider rating for his certificate. The new rating counts as a flight review and so he can go drag out the King Air and be legal if not smart.

However this is not much different than the issue a CFI faces if a pilot with a glider rating and a MEL rating on his certificate comes in for a flight review in a glider. The CFI may not even be rated for Airplanes, but the flight review in the glider opens the gate for the glider and the King AIr. This has never made sense.