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Glider call signs
Glider pilots often can use any of three different call signs. Since most (not all)
gliders now show standard CAA general aviation registrations e.g. G-xxxx they
can call using the same call sign and abbreviation rules as other light aircraft.
This has long been in the case in the United States.
Before these registrations came in (between 2004 and 2008) they used to use and normally
still do use either a three letter code issued to all gliders by the British Gliding Association
known as the aircraft's Trigraph e.g. XYZ normally calling ATC as "Glider X-ray, Yankee, Zulu"
or if they paid extra could get from the BGA a numeric or mixed numeric and letter code
known as a competition number for marking their aircraft and as a call sign. For Example R4
"Romeo Four", or 26 "Two Six" or F1 "Foxtrot One".
Optionally gliders will normally tag on the "Glider" in front of their call sign when calling ATC
units so that the controller knows for example that the glider will be unable to maintain a
particular height as Gliders are normally either descending in a straight glide or circling to
climb.
Some gliders are still not required to carry a CAA General Aviation type registration as they
are older designs or prototypes and can therefore only continue to just use their Trigraph or
Competition number as a call sign.
These are known as Annex II aircraft as they are listed in EASA Annex II.
A - Z of Flight
June 2017
www.alliance-airways.net
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