FAA Responds To NTSB Recommendation To Avoid Mid-Airs

Many aircraft radar transponders have a button which immediately sets the squawk code to 1200, the standard code for VFR traffic not in communication with air traffic control. But the FAA believes it's important for other traffic to know whether your blip is a powered aircraft, so the code 1202 has now been designated the standard for gliders (representative aircraft shown in file photo), effective March 7.

The unique code joins others which are designated for special purposes. 1255 indicates an aircraft en route to or from a designated firefighting area. 1277 indicates an aircraft on a search-and-rescue mission under authorization from the US Coast Guard or US Air Force.

One impetus for the new designation is an NTSB recommendation following the 2006 collision between a Hawker jet and a glider near the Reno/Tahoe International Airport. Following nine deaths in mid-air collisions between gliders and powered aircraft over a 20-year period, the NTSB chastised the FAA in 2008 for failing to make transponders compulsory.

Elizabeth Ray, the FAA Air Traffic Organization VP of Mission Support Services, explains why it's important for other traffic to know you're a glider. In her notice of the change she observes, "Gliders operate under some flight and maneuvering limitations. They may go from essentially stationary targets while climbing and thermaling to moving targets very quickly. They can be expected to make radical changes in flight direction to find lift and cannot hold altitude in a response to an ATC request. Gliders may congregate together for short periods of time to climb together in thermals and may cruise together in loose formations while traveling between thermals."

It's not clear how many gliders have transponders installed. Even modern, solid-state transponders in the 200-watt class draw on the order of two amps at 12 VDC. Gliders generally rely on small, rechargeable batteries or solar generation to run avionics chosen for low current drain.

FMI: www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/N7110.577.pdf