On Monday, May 2, 2016 at 9:05:28 AM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
On Monday, May 2, 2016 at 12:24:29 AM UTC-4, Bill T wrote:

It is my understanding that The FAA no longer considers a pilot with a certificate, a student. They are a rated pilot in search of additional ratings.
Hence they do not require a written test going from airplane to glider. As shown in other posts on RAS, the way to be considered a student is to turn in all your certificates and start from scratch, a student, complete with written tests and student limitations,

This appears to work differently for PPL-Power and PPL-Glider.

In March 2016, I asked the Portland ME FSDO whether my PPL-Glider certificate would allow me to solo a power plane (assuming current medical and CFI endorsement). They told me (in writing) that I needed to obtain a valid Student Pilot license.

Has anyone obtained a different opinion from a different FSDO?

I'm hoping that IACRA is programmed correctly, and lets me obtain a student pilot certificate, even though I already hold a PPL-Glider.

Used to be going from glider to airplane you'd have to take the airplane written(written not required airplane-glider) but you did not need a student pilots license. Inline with the FR issue it should be impossible to issue you a student license as you are a Private Pilot (with category of Glider.) Either the FSDO is wrong or the FAA have made policy changes. Keep us informed of how it plays out.