Actually, it is a mirror problem. I think we have
it worked out, but I just wanted to hear what others
might be doing.

I dislike the 'Go,go,go;' and 'Stop, stop, stop.'
We have several airports around us using the same frequency
and this kind of communication is too cluttered.

At 05:18 21 September 2006, Frank Whiteley wrote:

Nyal Williams wrote:
Our club has always used the standard hand signals
to let the tow pilot know the rope is taut and the
tow can begin.

We are considering short-handed operations in the
early
hours of the day and will have just a wing runner.
Is there a standardized phrase or a recommended best
phrase to radio the tow pilot to begin the launch?
We need something that is specific for the tow pilot,
short, unambiguous, and easily understood.

Please don't say 'Go, Go, Go!' It violates almost
all the requirements.
Give the wing runner a signal paddle (like a large
ping-pong paddle) to
signal the tow plane. I usually use my floppy hat.
We don't use a
launch marshall, but it sounds like your site uses
a separate signal
person from the wing runner. Larger mirrors might
help. You don't say
what limitations you're facing that prevents the tow
pilot from seeing
the wing runner. Personally, if a wing runner can't
perform the
hookup, the lookout, signal, and run the wing, I'd
find someone else or
launch unassisted.

We've settled on three audio signals for winch launching
on the radio,
each spoken three times. Up slack, go, and stop.
Just who is giving
the radio signals? If there's no wing runner, but
I don't think we've
settled on signals other than communicating with the
tow pilot by
closing the canopy and giving a rudder wag.

In the UK we called 'all out' three times instead of
'go' on the winch.
If the problem is really an audio issue, buy some
nice noise canceling
headsets.

Frank Whiteley