Critical Contest Safety Procedures Checklist

On Apr 11, 2:22*pm, "John Godfrey (QT)"
wrote:
A new document entitled "Critical Contest Safety Procedures Checklist"
has been posted on the SSA rules page. We hope contest organizers and
participants find this a helpful guide to key safety considerations.
Thanks to BB for his efforts.

http://www.ssa.org/files/member/Cont...0Checklist.pdf

For the Committee,
John Godfrey (QT)
SSA Rules Committee

Thank you

A new document entitled "Critical Contest Safety Procedures Checklist"
has been posted on the SSA rules page. We hope contest organizers and
participants find this a helpful guide to key safety considerations.
Thanks to BB for his efforts.

http://www.ssa.org/files/member/Cont...0Checklist.pdf

For the Committee,
John Godfrey (QT)
SSA Rules Committee

Thank you

John and John....both of you are the BEST! I will certainly introduce
and give my pilots this new checklist this summer. I can't thank you
two for all you do. The sport is so much safer because of work like
this. thank you.
Charlie"Lite" and Micki

On Apr 12, 8:06*pm, MickiMinner wrote:
A new document entitled "Critical Contest Safety Procedures Checklist"
has been posted on the SSA rules page. We hope contest organizers and
participants find this a helpful guide to key safety considerations.
Thanks to BB for his efforts.

http://www.ssa.org/files/member/Cont...0Checklist.pdf

For the Committee,
John Godfrey (QT)
SSA Rules Committee

Thank you

John and John....both of you are the BEST! *I will certainly introduce
and give my pilots this new checklist this summer. *I can't thank you
two for all you do. *The sport is so much safer because of work like
this. *thank you.
Charlie"Lite" and Micki

How could a tow plane pass the glider it just released unless the
glider was in the lead at release? And wouldn't that be scary?

I have towed literally hundreds of pattern tows in the past year and,
except for rare circumstances, I fly a tighter pattern than the
glider. The glider usually releases at mid-field downwind and turns
slightly away to the right to achieve his desired ground track. I
continue to accelerate to pattern speed, begin my 180 degree
descending base turn when abeam the numbers (or sooner or later
depending on winds), land long, clear the runway, execute a 180, stop,
and watch the glider on short final some 1,500 feet away. I see no
reason to delay the next takeoff waiting for the glider to complete a
pattern and land before I do. Of course I wait for the landing glider
to stop before taxiing forward to hook up the next glider.

If there is another aircraft in the pattern necessitating me to extend
my pattern, I'll break out and allow the glider I just released to
land first.

It's all about planning and judgment...

Great document. Thanks.

Concerning "Spratt guidelines of 2500’ AGL to launch, 3300’ AGL to
start, should be followed unless there is a good reason."

This is ambiguous as to what is being referenced for the AGL height.
Cloudbase? Critical updraft height? BL height? Sniffer max height?
Beer fumes from the bacchanalia the night before? ;-)

Thanks.

On Apr 13, 9:58*am, ContestID67 wrote:
Great document. *Thanks.

Concerning "Spratt guidelines of 2500’ AGL to launch, 3300’ AGL to
start, should be followed unless there is a good reason."

This is ambiguous as to what is being referenced for the AGL height.
Cloudbase? *Critical updraft height? *BL height? *Sniffer max height?
Beer fumes from the bacchanalia the night before? *;-)

Thanks.

I'm pretty sure this is top of the lift actually achieved by gliders
in the air. 3300 ft AGL is probably workable for many eastern sites
and possibly Hobbs but I would hesitate to start a task in Arizona
this low. Contestants are likely to be soon on the ground at local
strips or eating cactus! I personally would recommend a minimum of
5,000 ft AGL here.

Mike

On Apr 13, 2:56*pm, Mike the Strike wrote:
On Apr 13, 9:58*am, ContestID67 wrote:

Great document. *Thanks.

Concerning "Spratt guidelines of 2500’ AGL to launch, 3300’ AGL to
start, should be followed unless there is a good reason."

This is ambiguous as to what is being referenced for the AGL height.
Cloudbase? *Critical updraft height? *BL height? *Sniffer max height?
Beer fumes from the bacchanalia the night before? *;-)

Thanks.

I'm pretty sure this is top of the lift actually achieved by gliders
in the air. 3300 ft AGL is probably workable for many eastern sites
and possibly Hobbs but I would hesitate to start a task in Arizona
this low. *Contestants are likely to be soon on the ground at local
strips or eating cactus! *I personally would recommend a minimum of
5,000 ft AGL here.

Mike

Spratt 2500 to launch is derived from a "standard" 2000 ft AGL tow
and, of course, we don't fly closer than 500 vertically from clouds.
3300 AGL is min recommended to open task. That does not say CD and
advisors must open at that. Local situations may dictate higher.
Example in the East- at new Castle 3300 above airport is only 800 or
so above some important local terrain. as result, the "go" there is
set higher.
I hope this clarifies a bit.
UH

I'm pretty sure this is top of the lift actually achieved by gliders
in the air. 3300 ft AGL is probably workable for many eastern sites
and possibly Hobbs but I would hesitate to start a task in Arizona
this low. *Contestants are likely to be soon on the ground at local
strips or eating cactus! *I personally would recommend a minimum of
5,000 ft AGL here.

Mike

just because the task is open doesn't mean you have to start, right?

On Apr 13, 5:30*pm, Tony wrote:
I'm pretty sure this is top of the lift actually achieved by gliders
in the air. 3300 ft AGL is probably workable for many eastern sites
and possibly Hobbs but I would hesitate to start a task in Arizona
this low. *Contestants are likely to be soon on the ground at local
strips or eating cactus! *I personally would recommend a minimum of
5,000 ft AGL here.

Mike

just because the task is open doesn't mean you have to start, right?

Right; check your rules. The gate doesn't actually close until local
sunset.

-- Matt

On Apr 13, 9:58*am, ContestID67 wrote:
Great document. *Thanks.

Concerning "Spratt guidelines of 2500’ AGL to launch, 3300’ AGL to
start, should be followed unless there is a good reason."

This is ambiguous as to what is being referenced for the AGL height.
Cloudbase? *Critical updraft height? *BL height? *Sniffer max height?
Beer fumes from the bacchanalia the night before? *;-)

Thanks.

I think the amswers are - launch if sniffer reports reaching 2,500agl
and Task open if task adviser in that class reports reaching 3,300
agl.

The CD may, or may not, ask other pilots what height they have
achieved before opening the task. Who is asked may depend on who was
nice to the CD the evening before.

Andy