Falcon 2000 passes glider with 500 m separation, same altitude

A Dassault Falcon 2000 on an IFR flight from Munich to Paderborn-Lippstadt (Germany) passed an unidentified glider at the same altitude near Paderborn-Lippstadt with an estimated 500 m lateral separation; the Falcon landed safely. The Falcon had been cleared down to 1,525 m MSL on Langen Radar when both pilots first sighted the glider on an opposite heading at roughly 1,000 m. The glider had no transponder and did not appear on civilian or military radar. A second glider encounter occurred later on the same flight at about 1.3 NM and 30 m vertical; that glider was transponder-equipped and the controller issued traffic info.

1. IFR descent toward Paderborn-Lippstadt: On 18 April 2015 a Dassault Falcon 2000 was descending under IFR clearance in Class E airspace toward Paderborn-Lippstadt, with CAVOK weather reported.
2. Glider VFR without transponder: An unidentified glider operated VFR in the same airspace without an active transponder, so it did not appear on ATC or TCAS; gliders are exempt from the requirement.
3. Glider on opposite heading at 1,000 m: At about 14:31 both Falcon pilots suddenly sighted a glider on an opposite heading at the same altitude, roughly 1,000 m away when first seen.
4. Pass at ~500 m, same altitude: The glider passed the Falcon 2000 at the same altitude with an estimated lateral separation of about 500 m — a serious loss of separation in Class E airspace.
5. Lands at PAD; second glider seen: The Falcon landed at Paderborn-Lippstadt without damage or injury; a second, transponder-equipped glider was later encountered with traffic information and a safe separation.