On Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 9:58:31 PM UTC+2, 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)
My airfield is on a mountain sloped up. There is a height difference of 40M to a 620m Runway.
http://www.sg-dittingen.ch/c/index.php/gruppe/flugplatz


In addition there is trees on the high end. Take-offs usually turn out right before runway end due to noise mitigation. Tailwind is mainly a concern when we tow out heavy or two seat gliders.

The airfield is restricted due to this.

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.)

Yes it works well.
4. In any case, do you have any procedures in place deconflict landing towplane and glider traffic, other than radio call awareness?

The downwind is easily observable from T/O location. In swiss gliding its common to have a "downcircle" area. Its the zone where you arrive and start cicling before you join downwind. The downwind is announced on radio, but its usually obvious. If there is a plane in downwind the towplane waits.

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?

We seldom have too much tailwind. More often cross-wind. There i'd say we stop at about 30km/h. depending on the gusts.

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 ?

Field Policy.

7. Any other comments or experiences you'd like to relate on opposing-landing operations?
On a winch place I used to glide we also did opposite landings, even towards the grid. Mainly with the school aircraft. Its risky especially if the wheel breaks don't work, which has happens on 2 occasions. But we where highly efficient and managed 35-50 Launches on a two lane winch in a day.

I don't know how representative this all is for other places. Swiss airfields are cramped due to the ground being expensive. There is usually little usable space outside the runway.