Reporter observes air carrier aircraft operating in close proximity to gliders at CO15.

Attributes
ACN	657694
Time
Date	200505
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cos.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Sail Plane
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : observer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 19000
ASRS Report	657694
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

A couple of us; while on the ground at kelly airpark (5 NM west of elbert; co); observed on 3 occasions; airliner operations with very close range of a glider aircraft. In each case; the glider pilot saw the airliners and maintained separation. From our perspective on the ground; it looked like 2 of the 3 airliners were not aware of the glider's existence. In one case; the airliner appeared to be responding to a vector heading change; and turned directly at the glider. My concern is that airline procedures are heavily weighted towards a heads-down operation (even in clear WX). The purpose of this report is to remind airline pilots of their responsibility to see and avoid; despite the desire to 'keep the command bars centered.' the glider industry is attempting to develop a low battery-draw transponder for terminal operations. Many gliders are made of fiberglas and do not show up on radar or TCASII. They do not have an electrical generator system. Perhaps airlines can encourage good old-fashioned 'look outside the window' style of flying when in good WX.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR OBSERVES ACR ACFT OPERATING IN CLOSE PROX TO GLIDERS AT CO15.

Narrative: A COUPLE OF US; WHILE ON THE GND AT KELLY AIRPARK (5 NM W OF ELBERT; CO); OBSERVED ON 3 OCCASIONS; AIRLINER OPS WITH VERY CLOSE RANGE OF A GLIDER ACFT. IN EACH CASE; THE GLIDER PLT SAW THE AIRLINERS AND MAINTAINED SEPARATION. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE GND; IT LOOKED LIKE 2 OF THE 3 AIRLINERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THE GLIDER'S EXISTENCE. IN ONE CASE; THE AIRLINER APPEARED TO BE RESPONDING TO A VECTOR HDG CHANGE; AND TURNED DIRECTLY AT THE GLIDER. MY CONCERN IS THAT AIRLINE PROCS ARE HEAVILY WEIGHTED TOWARDS A HEADS-DOWN OP (EVEN IN CLR WX). THE PURPOSE OF THIS RPT IS TO REMIND AIRLINE PLTS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE AND AVOID; DESPITE THE DESIRE TO 'KEEP THE COMMAND BARS CTRED.' THE GLIDER INDUSTRY IS ATTEMPTING TO DEVELOP A LOW BATTERY-DRAW XPONDER FOR TERMINAL OPS. MANY GLIDERS ARE MADE OF FIBERGLAS AND DO NOT SHOW UP ON RADAR OR TCASII. THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL GENERATOR SYS. PERHAPS AIRLINES CAN ENCOURAGE GOOD OLD-FASHIONED 'LOOK OUTSIDE THE WINDOW' STYLE OF FLYING WHEN IN GOOD WX.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.