Cloud flying with a glider

Cloud flying privileges allow glider pilots to fly in clouds under certain conditions. As is often the case in aviation, these privileges come with certain procedures. A little anecdote illustrates the importance of these procedures:

«Once upon a time, there was a pilot flying a Cessna under IFR, cruising at 7,000 feet, right at the altitude of the cumulus clouds. Straight ahead, a glider disappeared into the clouds. Seeing this, the pilot immediately contacted air traffic control to announce that he would be forced to fly around the clouds because of the glider, which the air traffic controller was unaware of. The Cessna pilot climbed above the clouds to avoid further conflicts with thermals.»

This case highlights the need for coordination between gliders flying in clouds and IFR traffic. To this end, the following three points must be fulfilled:

1. Cloud flying privileges: Glider pilots must have cloud flying privileges. The procedures for acquiring and maintaining these privileges are set out in section SFCL.215 of the European regulations. The FOCA online aviation school directory (select “Cloud Flying Rating” under “Rating”) provides the contact details of the 13 aviation schools that offer this training in Switzerland.
2. Technical requirements: The glider must be certified for flight in clouds. This information can be found in the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) or in the flight manual (AFM) under “Kinds of operation.” The required equipment is specified in the AFM and in SAO.IDE.105.
3. Procedures: during flight, the pilot must obtain ATC clearance and the transponder must be switched on. Flying in clouds is not possible in all airspaces and is limited to cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds in an obstacle-free environment. The vertical distance between the base of the cloud and the highest obstacle on the ground must be at least 300 m. For details of procedures and conditions, refer to the VFR Manual, RAC 3-1-2, and Art. 25 ORA.

The privileges of flying in clouds are a valuable asset for any self-respecting glider pilot. They guarantee separation by ATC between aircraft in the vicinity of clouds. But it goes without saying that motorized IFR traffic is also affected, especially in good weather: keep your eyes open and follow the avoidance rules. And besides, the sky is so much calmer above the thermals!