Vaughn wrote:
"Mark Stevens" wrote in
Chris,

I tend to agree; but in the US, spin training is not required for any
glider or airplane ticket except CFI. As a student, I made the choice to
not solo any spinnable trainer without spin training. As a CFIG, I have
conformed to the "party line" and sent many students solo with only stall
avoidance, recognition and recovery training; without any hint of a problem.
I think (and suggest) that these people should seek spin training before
moving on to more demanding ships.


I gave spin training to every pilot I ever soloed, before solo.
It used to be a PPL requirement, I've been told...

Just a quick comment on parachutes from Mark Boyds
later post you mean that in the US you do not wear
parachutes in gliders as a matter of routine?

Yes, that is true. In my experience, most owners of single-seat glass
wear parachutes, but most clubs and commercial operations using 2-seat
gliders do not. It is just part of the culture. I think part of the reason
for this is the disincentive created by the US requirement that all chutes,
regardless of technology, be repacked every 120 days. An out-of-date chute
discovered in any operating aircraft is an invitation for an expensive and
inconvenient FAA violation notice.

I think it would be absurd to require parachutes for EVERY flight in
a 2-33 (a glider I've only flown ONCE above 3000 feet). 30 extra pounds
on every flight in a glider with no fatalities in 30 years, hardly
enough elevator to stall in any legal CG, and flown mostly below
3000 feet? Silly, in my opinion.


and it's
permitted to do aerobatics without them?

Under certain conditions...yes.

From a UK
perspective that seems criminally negligent and we
accept the cost of running parachutes for all seats
in all club gliders as simply something it would be
inconceivable to do.. And yes, they have saved lives...

Sure, in some conditions. But how many people have they
killed invisibly? The guy wearing the chute for the
winch pattern tow? Not a chance he'd have enough altitude to
use the chute, but maybe the extra weight was just
enough to cause the cable break and the stall/spin?
Kinda an invisible possibility, isn't it?
No real way to determine that...

I think REQUIRING parachutes for ALL glider operations is absurd.

PROVIDING them for all operations is quite civilized...
And teaching the judgement about when they are useful, and training
the eject techniques, probably has an excellent sobering effect...

I suspect this poster simply meant chutes are provided for use,
but I'd like to know if this is not just an option but a
requirement...


I don't disagree, like helmets on motorcycles, it is (or is not) part
of the local safety culture and the majority naturally conform. That said,
is chute use normal in all small UK aircraft, or is it just gliders? If
only gliders, why?

Hmmm...that is an interesting question. I'd love to hear
the UK answer.

In the US, chutes are generally only worn in aerobatic
aircraft during aerobatics as far as small aircraft go,
in my experience. A few others too (jump pilots, ferry pilots,
experimental test pilots, some tow pilots).

I've seen a lot of chutes (many legally expired) in single seat
gliders as well. The FAA seems to leave these guys alone,
recognising that since no chute at all is required,
having an expired one in a single seater is not exactly
front page news...