Letter to the FAA

It did!

I am in receipt of an email from the SSA Government Liason representative Mr Northcutt. I am truly amazed at being told that since I am NOT a current member of the Soaring Society of America he is unwilling to discuss my concerns.
He did go on to make three bullet points which make me think he did not read my email.

To say that perhaps the facility at which I worked need to address their training is a bit presumptative. One pilot was not from this field, but one of the many who come down to this facility due to the weather. The second was a 15 year old solo student on her third pull. For those of you familiar with the USAFA accident where the cadet instructor noted she was above the tow plane with a "taught" rope and decided to increase pitch to slow up and allow the tow pilot to get back in position I would ask, "how can we expect a 15 year old student to understand the importance of releasing in such a position if a USAFA student and CFI-G doesn't understand and react properly?

I am well aware of the FAA requirements for PIC. The airplanes I was flying were not unsafe to fly and the Schweizer hook system is approved by the FAA. My concern is one that has been expressed by other pilots and which has directly contributed to the death of more than one tow pilot here and in other countries.

My investigation of the available information continues, it will take some time but I will try to be as thorough as possible.

Walt

Do you even fly bro?
On Friday, June 9, 2017 at 8:43:08 PM UTC-4, Walt Connelly wrote:
I am in receipt of an email from the SSA Government Liason
representative Mr Northcutt. I am truly amazed at being told that
since I am NOT a current member of the Soaring Society of America he is
unwilling to discuss my concerns.
He did go on to make three bullet points which make me think he did not
read my email.

To say that perhaps the facility at which I worked need to address their
training is a bit presumptative. One pilot was not from this field, but
one of the many who come down to this facility due to the weather. The
second was a 15 year old solo student on her third pull. For those of
you familiar with the USAFA accident where the cadet instructor noted
she was above the tow plane with a "taught" rope and decided to increase
pitch to slow up and allow the tow pilot to get back in position I would
ask, "how can we expect a 15 year old student to understand the
importance of releasing in such a position if a USAFA student and CFI-G
doesn't understand and react properly?

I am well aware of the FAA requirements for PIC. The airplanes I was
flying were not unsafe to fly and the Schweizer hook system is approved
by the FAA. My concern is one that has been expressed by other pilots
and which has directly contributed to the death of more than one tow
pilot here and in other countries.

My investigation of the available information continues, it will take
some time but I will try to be as thorough as possible.

Walt




--
Walt Connelly

I would think that any institution we deal with, FAA, SSA, EAA, AOPA etc,. etc. should take with highest level of seriousness any remark concerning safety made by a pilot and based on his/her life-threatening experience in flight, member or not.

Several years ago when flying their LS-4 at Soar Minden I was in a situation after landing where the wheel brake, activated by pushing both rudder pedals, seemingly didn't work on a roll-out. I was happy I didn't hit any one on the tarmac. I quickly found out that you have to push with your HEELS, and not FEET. I reported my observation to their instructor with a reference to a possible wrong translation in the glider's Flight Manual, which I had studied before the flight. Some time later checking their web site I was pleased and grateful to see they had reacted and put a proper remark in the manual. The German original reads: "wird mit den Absätzen bedient". I just found the English manual for the LS-4A on-line, and it reads correctly now: "Press rudder pedals with heels to activate wheel brake" - so it must have been amended officially.

Just an example of a proper concern instead of a denial.

Tom BravoMike

On Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 8:43:10 PM UTC-4, Walt Connelly wrote:
Before I send my letter to the FAA I'd like to ask if anyone has ever
attempted to get them to see the light and end the use of Schweizer
hooks on tow planes here in the land of the free and the home of the
brave. It is a well known fact and clearly stated in the SSA/SSF and
FAA circulars and literature that under certain conditions (the exact
condition that the tow pilot will need to release) that it can be near
impossible to release the glider. Tow planes have crashed, lives have
been lost and at the same time everyone knows that this is a dangerous
situation.

Along with the conversion to Tost hooks I'd like to see it made
mandatory that the release handles be up high, near the throttle and
quickly available to the tow pilot with adequate mechanical advantage. I
can assure you that one does not have the time to go ducking and
reaching and feeling for a handle down on the floor of a Pawnee while
the glider kites in back of you.

The idea of requiring nose hooks on all gliders does not seem to be
feasible although it has been brought up to me as something that needs
to be addressed. My understanding is that the CG hook is meant for
ground/winch launch operations, however I have probably done thousands
of CG hook aero tows with no problem. For the most part these are ships
being flown by the best and most aware pilots. I'd like more input from
experience pilots on this point.

I currently have a number of highly experienced pilots from all levels
of aviation in agreement with me and willing to help me in this cause.


If one life is saved as a result of this endeavor then it will be well
worth it.

Walt Connelly




--
Walt Connelly

There is no substitute for safety and this is what this is all about. Walt, you should not have to send the letter, but if so compelled, do so. The owner, manager or chief tow pilot should have made sure that those hooks were changed long ago. Now after the fact they are being changed!

If aerotowing didn't have a half century plus history it would be impossible to start aerotowing in 2017. We should get with the times and switch completely to self launching or horse stretched bungees. The idea of tying two aircraft together and going flying is old tyme recklessness. We don't fly biplanes into barns or set up head on locomotive collisions for a laugh anymore. Likewise we shouldn't fly aircraft tied together. No towing means no towing fatalities. Perfect safety through abstinence is what the modern world demands.

So practice that abstinence and stop flying.

And screw the modern world and its demands. We live in a free country. ;-)

On 6/6/2017 2:25 PM, wrote:
If aerotowing didn't have a half century plus history it would be impossible to start aerotowing in 2017. We should get with the times and switch completely to self launching or horse stretched bungees. The idea of tying two aircraft together and going flying is old tyme recklessness. We don't fly biplanes into barns or set up head on locomotive collisions for a laugh anymore. Likewise we shouldn't fly aircraft tied together. No towing means no towing fatalities. Perfect safety through abstinence is what the modern world demands.

--
Dan, 5J

On Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 6:18:49 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
So practice that abstinence and stop flying.

Some of us lack self control to stay on the ground, we need Walt's letter to save us

Nice reply - still chuckling. Glad some of us can keep our sense of humor.

On 6/6/2017 5:17 PM, wrote:
On Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 6:18:49 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
So practice that abstinence and stop flying.

Some of us lack self control to stay on the ground, we need Walt's letter to save us

--
Dan, 5J

as a PIC, you always have the option to decide that the risk is not within acceptable limits it's no different than the wind being to strong for you. no one is using a cattle prod to jockey you into the towplane. you can refuse to fly, and if you aren't comfortable, i hope you have refused.

has your club/operation switched to a TOST release? if not, why? you could refuse to tow until they switch, both because it makes you uncomfortable, and as a means of getting your point across. we all have the option of staying on the ground regardless of what the regs say. maybe you've already done that. lobby your clubs leadership to switch releases. if they don't want to pay for it and you're so passionate, talk to people, take up a collection amongst them, and pay some for the release yourself. have you done these things?


On Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 8:43:10 PM UTC-4, Walt Connelly wrote:
Before I send my letter to the FAA I'd like to ask if anyone has ever
attempted to get them to see the light and end the use of Schweizer
hooks on tow planes here in the land of the free and the home of the
brave. It is a well known fact and clearly stated in the SSA/SSF and
FAA circulars and literature that under certain conditions (the exact
condition that the tow pilot will need to release) that it can be near
impossible to release the glider. Tow planes have crashed, lives have
been lost and at the same time everyone knows that this is a dangerous
situation.

Along with the conversion to Tost hooks I'd like to see it made
mandatory that the release handles be up high, near the throttle and
quickly available to the tow pilot with adequate mechanical advantage. I
can assure you that one does not have the time to go ducking and
reaching and feeling for a handle down on the floor of a Pawnee while
the glider kites in back of you.

The idea of requiring nose hooks on all gliders does not seem to be
feasible although it has been brought up to me as something that needs
to be addressed. My understanding is that the CG hook is meant for
ground/winch launch operations, however I have probably done thousands
of CG hook aero tows with no problem. For the most part these are ships
being flown by the best and most aware pilots. I'd like more input from
experience pilots on this point.

I currently have a number of highly experienced pilots from all levels
of aviation in agreement with me and willing to help me in this cause.


If one life is saved as a result of this endeavor then it will be well
worth it.

Walt Connelly




--
Walt Connelly