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#1
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Two pilots in my club have recently completed an assistant instructors
course in the UK. Apparently they are now being taught not to turn, but to achieve separation from the tug by climbing (i.e. slowing down) straight ahead. Stephen "Mike Borgelt" wrote in message ... On 16 Jul 2003 16:39:49 GMT, Simon Walker wrote: Hi Gail, There is actually no prescribed direction to turn at release of tow in the UK. You can turn either way, and I do. However, most people do assume that it is 'Turn left off tow' What kind of nasty accident do you imagine might happen if you turn left instead of right or vice versa? On my one and only flight in a glider in the UK(Astir 77) I turned right off tow and so did the towplane! I could see the dirty look the pilot was giving me. I was told later the glider turns left off tow in the UK. In Australia the glider turns right, the towplane turns left. This guarantees that the two lose sight fo each other and yes we have had a mid air due to this. As the fighter pilots say " lost sight - lost fight" Maybe we should organise things so the two keep sight of each other until positive separation has been established? Mike Borgelt |
#2
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"Stephen Cook" s comments read:
Two pilots in my club have recently completed an assistant instructors course in the UK. Apparently they are now being taught not to turn, but to achieve separation from the tug by climbing (i.e. slowing down) straight ahead. Which would mirror my recent flight with the National Coach who said "climb to achieve separation" -- Tim - ASW20CL "20" |
#3
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Hi Gail,
There is actually no prescribed way to turn at release of tow in the UK. You can turn either way, and I regularly do. Sometimes there can be cloud to the left and also when I'm being towed into an aerobatic box I will very often turn right depending on my desired positioning. It is generally accepted however that most people turn left. Give a climbing right turn a go next time and see which way the tuggie turns! Usually they are pretty good and turn the opposite way it's only when they are flying on mental autopilot that they instinctively turn right. with a glider in a climbing right turn and tug in a descending right turn there should still be no conflict. So no nasty accidents. At 15:06 16 July 2003, Gail wrote: PTS accuracy landing, whats that. In UK all landings are supposed to be accurate. Here...here! Although having said that, my parking isn't always quite as elegant as it should be, but then my excuse is that I'm a novice pilot with only a mere 130+ hours. Talking of international differences, I was talking to a German glider pilot recently and we were discussing aerotows. When I suggested that we (glider pilots in the UK) release and climb left, he said 'oh, in Germany its the other way around, we release and climb right!' I'm glad I found this out early it might have saved me from a nasty accident in the future. The curious thing about all of this is I would have thought that all FAI members would have subscribed to the same standards but it seems not so. Gail |
#4
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"Simon Walker" wrote in message ... There is actually no prescribed way to turn at release of tow in the UK. You can turn either way, and I regularly do. Clearly I've been misinformed. I have learned this technique from my local club and have relatively little experience of other clubs/locations. I shall definately make enquiries at my local club, I'm sure there must be a good reason for it. best wishes Gail |
#5
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Simon Walker s comments read:
Usually they are pretty good and turn the opposite way it's only when they are flying on mental autopilot that they instinctively turn right. Fine if you can count on your tug pilots .. with a glider in a climbing right turn and tug in a descending right turn there should still be no conflict. So no nasty accidents. Agreed so whether they are awake or not should be immaterial - unless you pull of as they are flying to slow for you when you are full of water ... -- Tim - ASW20CL "20" |
#6
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Flying at Ocana in Spain a couple of years ago, the standard tug response to
releasing the cable was to roll inverted and then pull through! I'm not sure what the glider pilot should do in these circumstances, other than watch in amazement. "Tim" wrote in message ... Simon Walker s comments read: Usually they are pretty good and turn the opposite way it's only when they are flying on mental autopilot that they instinctively turn right. Fine if you can count on your tug pilots .. with a glider in a climbing right turn and tug in a descending right turn there should still be no conflict. So no nasty accidents. Agreed so whether they are awake or not should be immaterial - unless you pull of as they are flying to slow for you when you are full of water ... -- Tim - ASW20CL "20" |
#7
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Gail,
Turn left as I am assuming you have been told. The tug pilot almost always turns and dives to the right in the UK unless you are in contact with them i.e. a situation where you are in a right turn climbing in a thermal and you agree to reverse the convention. Owain At 20:48 16 July 2003, Gail wrote: 'Simon Walker' wrote in message ... There is actually no prescribed way to turn at release of tow in the UK. You can turn either way, and I regularly do. Clearly I've been misinformed. I have learned this technique from my local club and have relatively little experience of other clubs/locations. I shall definately make enquiries at my local club, I'm sure there must be a good reason for it. best wishes Gail |
#8
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Well what I do is
1. release 2. watch the rope snap off 3. watch the tug turning 4. turn to the opposite Only exception would be if I'm towed under a ridge (neither tugs nor sailplanes take great pleasure to turn into the ridge) - then I just keep the visual contact to the tug until the vertical seperation is ok. Bert "Owain Walters" a écrit dans le message de ... Gail, Turn left as I am assuming you have been told. The tug pilot almost always turns and dives to the right in the UK unless you are in contact with them i.e. a situation where you are in a right turn climbing in a thermal and you agree to reverse the convention. Owain At 20:48 16 July 2003, Gail wrote: 'Simon Walker' wrote in message ... There is actually no prescribed way to turn at release of tow in the UK. You can turn either way, and I regularly do. Clearly I've been misinformed. I have learned this technique from my local club and have relatively little experience of other clubs/locations. I shall definately make enquiries at my local club, I'm sure there must be a good reason for it. best wishes Gail |
#9
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This is a particularly impressive document. The definition
of an accuracy landing includes stopping within 200ft (120m) but not beyond a reference point. Last time I checked there were 3.281ft in a metre, making 120m nearly 400ft. Doh! Looks like it's not what you think it is either! At 18:06 16 July 2003, Michael wrote: 'Basil Fairston' wrote PTS accuracy landing, whats that. In UK all landings are supposed to be accurate. Since I started this mess, I'll try to answer some of the questions. While I've replied to this message in particular, I've included the points raised in others. PTS means practical test standards, which are detailed descriptions of what is covered on a checkride. http://av-info.faa.gov/ is a web site that contains them. It includes a description of an accuracy landing. If you've not flown in the US, I assure you it's not what you think it is. |
#10
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Well, in any situation there are always going to be
'Ah but what if's' That's why we all, hopefully, use a big dash of common sense when flying, try and anticipate possible problems and modify our actions to minimise the risk in any given situation. Therefore, if you have a ballasted ASW20 being towed too slowly and you have to release common sense would dictate a turn to the left. 'Ah, but what if you had gliders thermalling off your port wing, or the ridge, or cloud, or blah, blah, blah' But, in most situations when you have energy and as long as you have acheived separation from the rope and rings then a climbing turn in either direction is fine. I can already hear somebody saying 'Ah, but what if the widget thrup became disconnected from the thingummy and then the sky fell on your head' You can turn either left or right in the UK. At 09:48 17 July 2003, Tim wrote: Simon Walker s comments read: Usually they are pretty good and turn the opposite way it's only when they are flying on mental autopilot that they instinctively turn right. Fine if you can count on your tug pilots .. with a glider in a climbing right turn and tug in a descending right turn there should still be no conflict. So no nasty accidents. Agreed so whether they are awake or not should be immaterial - unless you pull of as they are flying to slow for you when you are full of water ... -- Tim - ASW20CL '20' |
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