On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 10:58:31 PM UTC+3, LBC wrote:
A question for all of you who fly various places around the US and world-
My question is regarding tow operations where launching/landing gliders use one runway end (likely, the end heading into the wind), and the landing towplane uses the opposing runway direction (likely, landing downwind.)
If you're at a club, field, or airport that routinely uses this type of operation-
1. Is it geography that drives this? (eg sloping terrain or obstacles)
2. Is it efficiency of operation? (eg, the towplane lands downwind and comes to a stop near the launch point, without having to taxi much.)
3. Is it some other reason?
4. In any case, do you have any procedures in place deconflict landing towplane and glider traffic, other than radio call awareness?
5. At what appx wind magnitude does the operation shift to all launches and landings all done in one direction - what is considered excessive tailwind for your towplane/operation?
6. Is using opposing landings a field policy, or does the operation let the towpilot/launch crew/glider pilots decide it on any given operating day ?
7. Any other comments or experiences you'd like to relate on opposing-landing operations?
Thanks for your insights.
Not at our home field, but at an annual camp on a farm topdressing strip.
- the site is a bit of an "aircraft carrier" with steep drop-offs on three sides and a "bridge" on the 4th side (i.e. it's a terrace on the side of a hill). It has significant slope, and the prevailing wind is upslope.
- both gliders and towplane land in the opposite direction to takeoffs
- I've only a couple of times seen a switch-over to landing in the downhill direction. I think it took around 15 knots the "wrong" way to prompt this. Takeoffs continued with the tailwind.
- there is no conflict between landing gliders and towplane. Takeoffs are de-conflicted primarily visually, with of course help from gliders calling "downwind" (and base/finals if they see the towplane lined up).
- we don't allow inexperience pilots to fly solo there. I'm not sure of any formal requirement, but practically speaking you'd be cross-country rated.
A photo and a video of the site:
http://cs10405.vk.me/u53282174/124785828/z_e25b669c.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xrsNm9kJ5s