MSL vs. AGL (Again)

Oh boy...this sounds serious.

Why is the altimeter involved in the landing in any way in the pattern?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarmhttp://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

AGREED!, today on a rough thermal tow day with thermal induced
turbulance and slack lines on tow, and after my student had a great
"learn to center the thermal and climb" day, just sitting quiet in the
back seat and let him learn by doing, toughest thing an instructor has
to do. Then some review of all the stalls down to pattern and landing.

On the second tow, just as we reached 2K AGL, on an MSL set altimeter,
I took control of the glider on tow and gave him two suction cups to
cover the altimeter and airspeed. As soon as they were set, I pulled
the release, turned off tow and "Your airplane". He tripped into a
thermal and climbed, and then I said, let's go home. Determining
pattern altitude entry based on what it looks like, controlling
airspeed by pitch reference to the horizon and sound of the wind over
the canopy. An excellent pattern and landing.

He is ready to solo.
T