Are you sure there has not been a misunderstanding?

Which club is this, where was the Assistant Cat course and who was the
coach?

For the U.K. the B.G.A. give advice to be found in "Laws and Rules for
Glider Pilots" 14th edition June 2003:

Under "Recommended Practices":

"RP13. After releasing the cable, the glider should turn away so that the
tug aircraft pilot can see clearly that the glider is free."

If you can find out the reason given I should very much like to hear it,
since it contradicts the BGA's own recommended practice published just 6
months ago. If there has been a change in doctrine since then I have not
heard about it.

Apart from other considerations, it is normal to release in order to join a
thermal, failing to turn at once could easily lose you the thermal.

W.J. (Bill) Dean (U.K.).
Remove "ic" to reply.


"Stephen Cook" ] wrote in message
...


"W.J. (Bill) Dean (U.K.)." wrote in message
...

I agree completely with David Starer about what pupils ought to do, and
what to do about it if they don't.

c. As soon as the cable is seen to release start the climbing turn,
and look again to make sure it is safe to continue the turn.

It is important that the turn is not started with the rope still
attached (this has been known, tug pilots don't like it!).


The BGA are now teaching instructors on Assistant Cat courses to climb
away from the tug without turning. This was reported by someone at my
club who did a course recently. Unfortunately I can't remember the
reason for the change.

Stephen