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  #196  
Old July 3rd 17, 06:32 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Bruce Hoult
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Default Letter to the FAA

On Monday, July 3, 2017 at 4:22:54 PM UTC+3, John Wells wrote:
Any reason why rope-cutting guillotines (like we have in winches) aren't installed in tow planes? Regardless of the design of the hook, surely redundancy (as long as it doesn't increase the risk of an unintended release, which would potentially be more problematic on tow than on the winch).


I believe the installations with a winch to retract the tow rope after glider release also have a guillotine in lieu of a release on the tow plane end..

It might be pretty tricky to design an installation with both a release and a guillotine on the tow plane end without:

1) having the guillotine hanging way off the back of the tow plane, and mounted to what?

2) having the tow rope attachment/pull point much further forward than usual, and potentially difficult to hook up/unhook

3) being able to release the rope in flight (or while taxiing) without cutting the rope and without risk of the rings (or whatever) fouling on the guillotine.


I'm not sure why a guillotine would add any more risk. There are already plenty of ways for PTT to happen, and glider towing should always be performed in a way that makes PTT safe at any point during the takeoff.