Pre-Launch and Launch Procedures

***Important: prior to any glider activity be familiar with the SSA soaring signs for launch and during the tow***

*No glider shall be staged on the active runway until ready for launch.

The following should be done prior to staging:

A) All pre-flight inspection (in & out)

B) Positive control check (as needed)

C) General airport traffic assessment

D) Wind condition (go/no go)

Make sure that you have taken all your essential needs for the planned flight such as

*Water

*Nutrients (food for Country)

*Sun Protection (hat, Suntan lotion, sun glasses)

*Map (sectional)

*Cell phone

*Radio (battery charged)

*For X-Country, recovery crew assigned, and/or advise the active CFI-G for that day or the airfield administration your plans for the flight.

*Once the glider is staged, be ready for your launch, (since it will get busy as the season progresses)

A) Do your checklist CB-SIT-CB-E

B) Do not hook-up the glider to the towrope unless checklist done and ready to launch. The wingman prior to hook –up the glider should ask you: “Checklist complete?”

and you should answer: “checklist complete”. Then and only then the wingman will hook you to the rope.

Exceptions for this procedure might include:

1-Instructional unassisted take-off

2-No wingman available. (in that case, use caution and common sense).

Be careful when doing your checklist that waging your rudder is not interpreted by the tow pilot as a go. One way to do so is to leave your canopy open and/or check the rudder well before the tow rope slack has been taken out.

C) Prior to thumbs up to the wingman and rudder waggle to signal to the tow-pilot that you are ready for launch, make sure that you have assessed the Emergency plan in case of rope break:

1)  Wind direction and strength

2)  Rope break while:

*Rolling: release the rope and avoid tow plane to the right if necessary

*50’ land straight ahead and avoid tow plane to the right if necessary

*100 to 200’ if an on-airport landing is not possible, land in a surrounding field (make sure that you know where a couple of possible landing fields are and visit them on the ground)

*200’ 180 degrees turn at 45 degrees banking and no less than 60 kts airspeed. Land downwind and watch your speed. Use airbrakes as needed.

*400’ Abbreviated pattern (use radio to signal emergency pattern entry and landing), If active asphalt runway is active, use the grass runway.

D) Thumbs up to wingman or wag your rudder if unassisted take-off.

* Once airborne after announcing your 200’ and 400’ altitude, if needed, you may contact the tow pilot for specific intention, question (s) or towing request(s).

All tows are assumed HIGH TOWS unless you specify otherwise.

Learn the grass landing strip and use it during busy weekends when the asphalt runway is crowded, and especially when you hear other powered traffic in the pattern behind you.

Land on the main tire [this is called a flat flare] to save the tail tire if you are in the PW-5.

Know the grass landing strip, drive it with a CFI if you need to.