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.