Number of aero tows in 2011

[Bill D]

I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess?

I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess.

Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

[T[_2_]]

On Nov 4, 8:16*pm, Bill D > wrote:
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. *I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. *Anyone care to guess?
>
> I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. *If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess.
>
> Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

We average over 1000 per year, operating only Sat and Sun, 52 weekends
a year, 1 tow plane.
Plus about 100 auto tows over 4 days a year.
T

[[email protected]]

Our club achieved just over 1000 tows this year with 2 Tow Planes .

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, November 4, 2012 11:16:29 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess? I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess. Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

Valley Soaring Club in NY did just under 1300 operating March thru December..
UH

[Dan Marotta]

Answering just for Sundance Aviation at Moriarty, NM, I personally flew 986
tows in 2011. Since I towed 3 days per week, you could estimate that the
operation gave about 2,300 tows that year.

Then there's the soaring club. Maybe they'll also respond.


"Bill D" > wrote in message
...
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG
> as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to
> guess?
>
> I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each
> made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I
> suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to
> about 100,000 - that's my guess.
>
> Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

[Dan Marotta]

Sorry... I added the "total landings" column instead of the "tows" column.
Considering 63 glider flights in 2011, that leaves:

923 tows I did (exactly)

2,100 tows for the total operation (estimated)



"Dan Marotta" > wrote in message
...
> Answering just for Sundance Aviation at Moriarty, NM, I personally flew
> 986 tows in 2011. Since I towed 3 days per week, you could estimate that
> the operation gave about 2,300 tows that year.
>
> Then there's the soaring club. Maybe they'll also respond.
>
>
> "Bill D" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a
>> SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care
>> to guess?
>>
>> I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each
>> made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I
>> suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to
>> about 100,000 - that's my guess.
>>
>> Anyone care to differ or offer another number?
>

[JP Stewart]

On Sunday, November 4, 2012 11:16:29 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess? I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess. Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

Here I have all of the operations for the clubs in Virginia: http://vasoaring.org/

JP

[Renny[_2_]]

On Monday, November 5, 2012 9:50:00 AM UTC-7, Jp Stewart wrote:
> On Sunday, November 4, 2012 11:16:29 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
>
> > I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess? I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess. Anyone care to differ or offer another number?
>
>
>
> Here I have all of the operations for the clubs in Virginia: http://vasoaring.org/
>
>
>
> JP

JP,
The Albuquerque Soaring Club did 875 tows in 2010 and probably a few more in 2011. I should have the 2011 number shortly....
Thx - Renny

[[email protected]]

On Monday, November 5, 2012 10:56:10 AM UTC-7, Renny wrote:
> On Monday, November 5, 2012 9:50:00 AM UTC-7, Jp Stewart wrote:
>
> > On Sunday, November 4, 2012 11:16:29 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
>
> >
>
> > > I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess? I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess. Anyone care to differ or offer another number?
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Here I have all of the operations for the clubs in Virginia: http://vasoaring.org/
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > JP
>
>
>
Bill D,

The Albuquerque Soaring Club did 875 tows in 2010 and probably a few more in 2011. I should have the 2011 number shortly....

Thx - Renny

[Renny[_2_]]

On Sunday, November 4, 2012 9:16:29 PM UTC-7, Bill D wrote:
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess?
>
>
>
> I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess.
>
>
>
> Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

Bill,
OK..I just got the number. Albuquerque Soaring did 812 tows in 2011.
Thanks - Renny

[Bill D]

T, who we?

On Sunday, November 4, 2012 9:53:35 PM UTC-7, T wrote:
> On Nov 4, 8:16*pm, Bill D > wrote:
>
> > I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. *I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. *Anyone care to guess?
>
> >
>
> > I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. *If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess.
>
> >
>
> > Anyone care to differ or offer another number?
>
>
>
> We average over 1000 per year, operating only Sat and Sun, 52 weekends
>
> a year, 1 tow plane.
>
> Plus about 100 auto tows over 4 days a year.
>
> T

[Bill D]

On Monday, November 5, 2012 5:42:43 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> Our club achieved just over 1000 tows this year with 2 Tow Planes .

Who?

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, November 4, 2012 11:16:29 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess?
>
>
>
> I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess.
>
>
>
> Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

Mid-Georgia Soaring Association pulled 573 tows in 2011 with one Pawnee.

[Jim[_30_]]

On Sunday, November 4, 2012 11:16:29 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess?
>
>
>
> I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess.
>
>
>
> Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

[Jim[_30_]]

On Sunday, November 4, 2012 11:16:29 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess?
>
>
>
> I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess.
>
> Caesar Creek Soaring Club has 3 Pawnees and this year our club did 2200 tows through sometime in October...so add a few this for a yearly total.

Jim Price

> Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

[RN]

Central Indiana Soaring Society has 1020 tows with 2 Pawnees April-October 2012.

[Steve Leonard[_2_]]

On Monday, November 5, 2012 10:50:00 AM UTC-6, Jp Stewart wrote:
Here I have all of the operations for the clubs in Virginia: http://vasoaring.org/ JP

JP, could you please define "flight operations" in your context. I know the FAA would count a single airplane tow of a glider from an airport as 4 airplane movements, as there were two takeoffs and two landings. 6300 flight operations for a club with 90 members seems like a whole lot of flying in a year. Especially considering typical numbers of "active" club members to "total" club members.

Bill, I will have infor for KSA as it pertains to Sunflower Gliderport for you this evening. Will post here.

Steve Leonard
KSA Towplane Manager

[[email protected]]

Soaring Club of Houston is right at 2000 tows a year.

[RL]

Philadelphia Glider Council in 2011 - 2,390 tows with two tow planes,
a Pawnee and an L-19. For 2012 we are at 2,456 tows to date and will
fly through Dec 31 as long as weather and field conditions permit. It
raised a few eyebrows when we told the folks at PHL ATC that we do
about 10,000 take-off and landing operations per year.

Bob

[cuflyer]

On Monday, November 5, 2012 12:16:29 AM UTC-4, Bill D wrote:
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess?
>
>
>
> I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess.
>
>
>
> Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

Over 1400 at Sugarbush, Vt.

1FL

[Bill D]

With 40 organizations reporting we have 38,518 tows for 2011. My 100,000 tow guess looks like it might be in the ballpark. C'mon folks, I need more data - especially from commercial operations.

[Karen]

William. Calendar 2011, 1,285 aero tows at Soaring Center Las Vegas.

845 winch launches (subject closer to your heart) And 8.75% as much
fuel per launch. Karen

[Nigel Pocock[_2_]]

Different country
Lasham 6853 Aerotows (16314 winch launches)

[Bill D]

Interim report with 33% of clubs and 25% of commercial operation reporting:

Using questionable statistical methods to project a total which assumes those yet to report will have figures similar to those actually reported, the total aero tows for 2011 in the US would be in the ballpark of 150,000 tows.. However, the larger, more active organizations may have reported first so the real total could still be near 100,000.

Please keep those reports coming.

[Tom Dukerich]

Tucson Soaring Club 2011 - 3308 total

Top 3 release altitudes (AGL):

Pattern tows - 881
3000' tows - 560
2000' tows - 328

[Alpha One]

Southern California Soaring Academy, near Los Angeles, had 3,117 aero
tows in 2011. We have three Pawnees. Adding a fourth for 2013.

Estimating 3,350 aero tows for 2012.

Ron Gregg

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, November 7, 2012 5:40:45 PM UTC-8, Bill D wrote:
> Interim report with 33% of clubs and 25% of commercial operation reporting: Using questionable statistical methods to project a total which assumes those yet to report will have figures similar to those actually reported, the total aero tows for 2011 in the US would be in the ballpark of 150,000 tows. However, the larger, more active organizations may have reported first so the real total could still be near 100,000. Please keep those reports coming.

Krey Field, private airport FBO with three clubs on premises. 2 day ops most of year. Approx. 500tows/yr with two tow planes, one plane is backup and rarely used.

[Bill D]

Please keep the 2011 total tow reports coming.

It looks like the larger operations were "early voters". Since then a string of "0" tow reports have come in from Blanik L-13, Lark and 2-33 operators who have lost the use of their gliders. The projected total is trending towards 125,000 tows for 2011.

[T[_2_]]

On Nov 15, 11:59*am, Bill D > wrote:
> Please keep the 2011 total tow reports coming.
>
> It looks like the larger operations were "early voters". *Since then a string of "0" tow reports have come in from Blanik L-13, Lark and 2-33 operators who have lost the use of their gliders. *The projected total is trending towards 125,000 tows for 2011.

I understand the L-13, and Lark.
But why would 2-33 owners have lost the use of their gliders?

T

[Bill D]

On Thursday, November 15, 2012 10:33:40 PM UTC-7, T wrote:
> On Nov 15, 11:59*am, Bill D > wrote:
>
> > Please keep the 2011 total tow reports coming.
>
> >
>
> > It looks like the larger operations were "early voters". *Since then a string of "0" tow reports have come in from Blanik L-13, Lark and 2-33 operators who have lost the use of their gliders. *The projected total is trending towards 125,000 tows for 2011.
>
>
>
> I understand the L-13, and Lark.
>
> But why would 2-33 owners have lost the use of their gliders?
>
>
>
> T

Rust, corrosion, fatigue cracks even bad fabric. Damage to the struts will ground one and AFAIK, struts are unobtainable. Any of these will cost more to repair than the glider is worth so they just become parts piles and fade away.

[Gliderboy]

Our very busy commercial op. on Oahu did about 4,000 tows in 2011 using two L-19's.

[Bill D]

On Saturday, November 17, 2012 11:24:18 PM UTC-7, Gliderboy wrote:
> Our very busy commercial op. on Oahu did about 4,000 tows in 2011 using
>
> two L-19's.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Gliderboy

4000 is s suspiciously round number. Sure it's not 3888? There's more than one glider operation on Oahu. Which is yours?

[Gliderboy]

If you'll read my post you'll see the word 'about' before the figure 4,000. The company is Honolulu Soaring and on a busy day I'll do upwards of 20 tows. A typical day would be 10~15. We fly every day of the year except the few days when the winds are strong out of the south.

As far as counting the exact number, you must be joking! We're far too busy for that.

I flew today, and as usual, I flew my butt off!

The good part? After a hot and sweaty day of flying, we walk across the street and go for a swim or surf in the crystalline waters of the mid-Pacific (usually with sea turtles for company).

No complaints from this tow pilot!








--

Gliderboy[/i][/color]

4000 is s suspiciously round number. Sure it's not 3888? There's more than one glider operation on Oahu. Which is yours?[/QUOTE]

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, November 4, 2012 8:16:29 PM UTC-8, Bill D wrote:
> I'm working on some numbers for SSA Growth and Development. I need a SWAG as to how many aero tows were made in the US in 2011. Anyone care to guess? I know there are about 210 tugs, some more active than others. If each made 20 tows a week, 52 weeks a year, that would be 218,000 tows but I suspect that weather, seasonal and other factors would reduce that to about 100,000 - that's my guess. Anyone care to differ or offer another number?

342 tows for High Desert Soaring club located in Bend Oregon operating a PA25.

[Dan Wrobel]

Cache Valley Soaring Association in Logan, Utah did 145 club tows in 2011 not including 373 tows during the 15m Nationals and the Region 9 contest.

[Todd]

Adrian Soaring Club (KADG, Adrian MI)
2012 Tows = 515 & Hours = 314
2011 Tows = 509 & Hours = 224
2010 Tows = 759 & Hours = 325
2009 Tows = 596 & Hours = 260
2008 Tows = 878 & Hours = 373
2007 Tows = 993 & Hours = 434
2006 Tows = 851 & Hours = 350
2005 Tows = 538 & Hours = 209
2004 Tows = 405 & Hours = 153