PTT

Had my first genuine PTT yesterday. Not counting a couple of rope breaks that you could see coming. The pawnee had an engine failure at around 6-700ft AGL.

Things get busy fast. The towpilot was busy keeping the pawnee flying and heading for something safe to land on. The student in front initially followed the towplane, using brake to descend. He didn't understand what was going on initially and was just trying to stay behind the towplane. By the time the towpilot called us on the radio to say he had an engine failure he was already descending fast and heading back the the airfield. I pulled the release at the same time he was starting the radio call.

I've seen this before when doing practise PTTs. If the student hasn't been warned they take a second or so to realise the rope is going away. Same when the towplane waves them off. They don't believe what they're seeing for a while. The old brain takes time to process before it reacts.

Luckily the pawnee made it into a nice field, not the riverbed or rough ground that was most of the local area. Nice landing used all the field and ended with no damage hard up against the fence but not actually touching.

All ended with no harm done, but I'm sure a few hearts beat harder for a while.

--
Philip Plane