de Havilland Canada DHC-8-102 , VH-TQT

A de Havilland Canada DHC-8, VH-TQT, was inbound to Mildura from
Melbourne and overflew a glider that was crossing from left to
right. At the time, TQT was descending through 7,300 ft and the
crew had made inbound and top of descent broadcasts. The aircraft,
which were outside controlled airspace, passed within an estimated
30 to 60 m. VH-TQT was on the area frequency 122.1 MHz and the
glider, VH-GDJ, was on the glider frequency 122.7 MHz.

AIP Australia ENR 5.5, paragraph 1.1.3, states: "Except for
operations in controlled airspace, gliding operations may be
conducted no-radio, or may be on frequencies 122.5MHZ, 122.7MHZ or
122.9MHZ, which have been allocated for use by gliders. Unless
otherwise authorised, gliding operations in controlled airspace
must be conducted using the appropriate air traffic control
frequency. Radio equipped gliders at non-controlled aero-dromes
will use the MBZ frequency or CTAF. Whenever possible, when
operating above 5,000 ft AMSL outside a MBZ or CTAF area, glider
pilots are expected to listen out on the area VHF and announce if
in potential conflict."

Consequently, in the circumstances of this occurrence, the
glider pilot was "expected to listen out on the area VHF" but was
not required to do so.

The pilots of both aircraft advised that, from the time of
sighting of the other aircraft, they had no time to take avoiding
action.