What's really bad is that MHG's gliders fly nordo (or at least they did when I took a ride with them about a year and a half ago). I guess they think that all they need are tow plane calls and the returning gliders aren't a hazard. Maybe now they'll wake up.
But it didn't happen in the pattern. The glider was on tow. That makes two aircraft about 200 feet apart in trail. Not hard to spot, really. And more than likely the towplane pilot announced the takeoff, and direction they were climbing in.
I use my handheld in the glider, but we fly a pattern that is lower and closer to the runway, so when returning, I, at least, have never come into conflict with any power traffic in the pattern, and never made or heard a radio call that made as much difference as
looking outside the glider.
Outside the pattern, I am often maneuvering in an area that puts me near traffic approaching KEWR from the south- outside the Class B. They are often between 2500-3500, even that far out. Lots of potential there for conflict.
But even if ATC has a NOTAM about us, that doesn't mean glider and airline pilot alike are exempt from
looking outside. More than once I've seen them and they apparently see me and we both maneuver a hair, with ample room, and everything is fine. I know gliders are hard to see head-on, but we're usually banking in a fairly tight turn, presenting a huge white wing.
But even if the glider had a tx, readable by their TCAS, and I were being tracked by and talking to ATC, that doesn't exempt anybody from
looking outside. Even if I were within the class B for some crazy reason and under their control directly, I still have to
look outside.
I stress the "looking outside" part in this case because even without knowing the angles involved, I am positive this terrible tragedy could have been avoided by.... yes, that's right.
