Transponder Praise

On July 2 (a day with blue skies, a few scattered CUs and typical east
coast haze) a friend and I were thermalling our ASW-20 and ASW-19
sailplanes at 6,000 feet 3 miles SE of Blairstown, NJ (a clearly
marked glider port some 40 miles from Newark Airport and Teterboro
Airport). My Zaon MRX alerted us to traffic at our altitude 5 miles
away, which then rapidly closed on us. Despite our best efforts over
the next 30 seconds, neither my friend nor I saw anything approaching.
Then suddenly we saw a business jet in a 45-50 degree bank less than a
mile away. Apparently my transponder caused a TA on his TCAS, he
looked outside and saw our wings flashing, and he turned away from the
impending collision.

I realize not everyone flies in a high traffic area like that around
NY and PHL. But especially for my soaring friends who fly the
Governor’s Cup course, I strongly recommend you put a transponder in
your ship. They cost less than a glide computer, and while they won’t
tell you where you are, a transponder might just get you home someday…

-John