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HARRY REID 

NEVADA [U\•~;~.J.~~ :";( ,-:_. 1 MAJORITY lEADER 

Mr. Michael Huerta 

Acting Administrator 

Federal Aviation Administration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington, DC 20591 

x_(\ ~~\\c.. \t)\-(:)~"""" r--. 1anittit tatts rn9tr ~- 0 \..___)~ WASHINGTON, Dr. 20510-7012 

March 13, 2012 

Ms. Margaret Gilligan 

Associate Admin istrator for Aviation Safety 

Federal Aviation Admin istration 

800 Independence Avenue, SW 

Washington; DC 20591 

Dear Acting Administrator Huerta and Associate Administrator Galligan: 

I am writing today to ask that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) review its 

recommendations conceming glider operatOrs and their effect on airspace safety at Reno-Tahoe 

lntcmutionnl Airport (RNO). Concerns continue to exist about the safety of the airspace even in light of a 

previous review by the FAA which was conducted in 20 I 0. 

As you may know, the beautiful, panoramic views afforded to gl iders launching from the Sierra 

Nevada Mountains attracts many enthusiasts. I respect the legal rights of these gliders to enjoy the views 

of the Trucket: M~adows basin, however, I still remain committed to providing the safest conditions for 

both the gliders and others utilizing the same airspace, notably aircraf\ operators taking off and landing 

from RNO. 

I appreciate the FAA's previous efforts to address the glider exemption rrom CFR I 4 part 

91 .2 15. While a new national beacon code will be delegated for use by transponder equipped gliders 

nationwide, !.here are many concerns that still exist. The ne\v beacon code witl1 allow FAA Air Traffic 

Control Tower (ACTA) opemtors to identify and locate gliders, however, this will only work if the glider 

operators are equipped and tum on these transponders. There is no obligation for glider operators to 

install and turn on these transponders, and as a result, this may create a potential collision between gliders 

and aircraft, as has already happened twice in Reno. 

I respectfully request that the FAA invoke its emergency rulemaking procedure to remove the 

glider exemption from CFR 14 part 91 .215, and fi1rther fo llow up on your previous airspace study from 

20 I 0, taking into account the continued safety concerns at RNO. 

I appreciate your attention to this safety issue at the Reno-Tohoe lnternational Airport. The safery 

of the travelling public remains an utmost concern of mine. If you have questions, please contact Bob 

Herbert of my staff at (202) 228-45i8. 

My best wishes to you. 
·,·: · '!. L . L :L ~' i 

Krys T. Bart, A.A.E. 

President / CEO 

The Honorable Harry Reid 

United States St:nate 

522 Hart Senate Office Building 

WMhington, DC 20510-2803 

February 15, 2012 

Re: Update on Glider Traffic near Rcno-Tnhoe International Airport 

Dear Senator Reid: 

' r 'i t'9 ~ l "' ' v 

As we have discussed, gliders have an imp<JCt on the safety of air traffic operations into and out 

of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) as a result of glider pilots either lacking or not 

turning on their Lranspond<.:rs. Although sigo.i.ficantly more stringent controls are still needed to 

max.irnize safety in our airspace, I wanted to provide you an update on an important fmt step that 

has been taken by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enhance air traffic safety. 

Gliders are currently exempt from CFR 14 part 91.215 which requires that aircraft be equipped 

with an operable coded radar beacon transponder. Without the transponder infonnation, FAA 

Air Traffic Control Tower (/\ TCT) operators cannot detennine exacr aJtimde of gliders even in 

those cases where the glider is visible on A TCT radar. This safety issue is compoundetl lJy the 

fact that not aU glider pilots maintain radio contact wit11 Lbe FAA ATCr operators, preventing 

the timely warning of nearby aircraft and increasing the probability of a mid-air colUsion. 

Effective March 7, 2012, a new national beacon code ("2012'') will be delegated for use by 

transpor.dcr equipped gliders nationwide. This will allow FAA ATCT operators ro correcrJy 

identify and locate gl.iders but only if tbe glider is equipped with a transponder and only if tbeiJ 

pilots choose to L1lm them on. Previously, transponder equipped gliders were indistinguishable 

from other general aviation traffic unless in radio contact. 

Dc.spitc this solid fmt step, lbc safety hro:nrd posed by glider traffic is still a long way from 

resolution. Glider pilots are under no obligaLion cithcr to equip their aircraft with tTansponders 

or even to rurn their transponders on if installed. Therefore, I would like to reiterate our request 

for your assistance in keeping pressure on the FAA to exercise its emergency rulernaking 

:1uthority to remove the gHder exemption from CFR 14 part 91.215, if only io reference ro RNO 

airspace, which would gn.:atly increase air traffic safety. 

Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority 

Reno-Tahoe International Airport D Reno Stead Airport 

~~~==e~~e.J 490 • Ilene. NV 89510 • 775-328-6400 • Fax 7 75-328-6414 • kbart@renoalroort.com 
RNO Glider Update Letter 

02/J 5112 

pngc2 

\ ~ ~ 0 C I • • • .J ,/-

Once again, our sincere !banks for your invaluable time and dedication to the great state of 

Nevada. Please do not hesitate to contact me nt (775) 328-6402 if have any questions or need 

auy more information. 

KTB/lkb 

Sincerely, 

d~ /6A-<f Krys T. Bart, A.A.E. 

President/CEO 

CC: Dean Schultz, A.A. E., RT.-\A Executive Vice President I COO 

Dave Gonschall, A.A.£. RTAA Vice President of Operations & Public Safety 

Karl Scribner, FAA Air Traffic Manager, Reno ATCT 

FAA-120314-002 

Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority 

Reno-Tahoe International Airport • Rer.o-Stcnd Airport 

U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Aviation 

Administration 

May 18,2012 

The Honorable Harry Reid 

United States Senate 

Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Reid: 

Office of the Administrator 600 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Washington. D.C. 20591 

Thank you for your March 13 letter concerning glider operations and airspace safety at 

Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and your request to invoke emergency rulemaking action to 

remove the glider exemption from Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 9 1.215. 

At the Federal Aviation Administration's public meeting on April 4, industry representatives 

presented their concerns. The primary purpose of the public meeting was to vet the recently 

developed Technical Standard Order (TSO-C 199) for Low-Power Surveillance Equipment. The 

TSO was developed to address current operational performance standards, to satisfy Traffic Alert 

and Collision Avoidance System interoperability, and to improve detection by air traffic control 

radar systems, by incorporating features of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. The 

pcrfom1ancc standards were developed to entice avionics equipment manufacturers to expand on 

and offer a lower-cost surveillance equipment solution to the glider community. The TSO 

performance standard should avert the cost of installing higher-priced transponders which use 

additional aircraft battery power. 

We also met with the Soaring Society of America in february, before the public meeting, to brief 

them on the performance standards ofTSO-CI99. We encouraged the development of 

transponder equipment for gliders not equipped with an aircraft battery or other source of power. 

Following publication of the TSO, we will publish a Request for Information on or around 

September 30 to solicit cost estimates and availability of equipment that will meet the 

requirements ofTSO-C 199. 

finally, on March 7 we implemented a new national transponder code (1202) exclusively for 

assignment to gliders so as to distinguish gliders, on radar displays, from aircraft operating with 

1200 or 1201 codes. The new national transponder code for gliders will facilitate unique radar 

recognition of a glider as a target when the glider is equipped with a transponder and it is turned 

on. Additionally, radar automation will be updated to include the letter "G" in the data-block of 

air traffic controllers' radar displays to signify a glider. 
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For purposes of review, the draft TSO can he found at: 

http://'www. faa.gov/aircrafVdmll_ docsltso/ 

While we considered an emergency rulemaking, we collaboratively agreed upon the 

development of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), and this process is 

projected to start this month. The ability to craft the ANPRM language during the public 

meeting, while protected under ex-parte, allows the rulemaking team to understand the industry's 

opinions regarding mandated equipage. 

If I can be of further assistance, please contact me or Roderick D. Hall, Assistant Administrator 

for Govemment and Industry AITairs, at (202) 267-3277. 

Sincerely, 

Ac

M~lluc" ting Administrator