NPA 2008-17 does not include any provisions to allow cloud flying for sailplane pilots. Does this mean that EASA intends to exclude this possibility?
Not at all. The Agency considered that there was a need to discuss this issue in a specific task on general conditions to fly in IMC. The Agency has therefore initiated at the end of 2008 the Rulemaking task FCL.008, on conditions to fly under IMC. The drafting group is developing an NPA on this issue, taking into account input received from Member States national requirements, comments received during the consultation of A-NPA 14-2006 and NPA 2008-17, as well as the views of the experts in the group. An NPA should be published in the first quarter of 2010 for public consultation. The Agency is considering adequate transition measures to be included in the FCL Regulation to allow holders sailplane licences to continue to exercise their privileges until the adoption of the requirements resulting from task FCL.008.
