Sail Plane
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Glider; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 76; Flight Crew Total 1125; Flight Crew Type 805
Communication Breakdown
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Returning from local training flight and had entered the ZZZ 'Glider Box' that is used by gliders and tow planes for training and to establish altitude for midfield crossing. All traffic uses the north side patterns. Gliders and tow planes cross mid field from the south.Suddenly we saw a black helicopter rising up through the Glider Box and heading directly at us. The student was on the controls. I grabbed the stick and made a hard turn to the right; but think the student was simultaneously making the same turn. The helicopter flew directly below our right wing as we turned fully to the south. I could see the pilot in the cockpit and it was very loud in the glider when the helicopter passed under. The helicopter made no evasive maneuver. In debriefing with [Company] officials; it was confirmed the helicopter pilot did not see the glider until passing underneath.The helicopter was difficult to see because it was climbing rapidly. I made a radio call regarding the near miss and was given a reply that he had called a take-off that should have made us aware of his presence. Even if we had listened to such a call; there was no way to know his intended direction; high altitude (for a helicopter) or that the flight path would be through the 'Glider Box'.
Sailplane pilot reported that a helicopter departing through a glider designated area resulted in a NMAC.