"kirk.stant" wrote in message
ups.com...

Chuck Griswold wrote:
At 19:01 11 September 2006, Kirk.Stant wrote:

Kirk.
Really now, if you must ask that question then you
should not be flying
anything.

Chuck, I totally agree - I was amazed by the answers to the question!

I've flown from a German glider field located on the side of a hill -
took off (winch) one way (downhill) and landed the other (uphill),
regardless of wind. And of course, a rope break will require you to
land opposite your takeoff direction, normally. And out west, late in
the evening you may have to land down-Sun/down wind or you are blind;
the list goes on. You do what makes sense and is safest.

The point is, many "casual" pilots really do not understand all this.
So the discussion (BS session, of course) goes: " well, he busted
because he landed in the opposite direction that he took off from..."
accompanied by nodding of heads by some of the local pilots (both
experienced and inexperienced). Other pilots jump in: "WTF are you
talking about, there isn't anything in the FARs or AIM or (pick your
source) that says that!". Much arm waving and spirited discussion
ensues, more adult beverages are consumed, and everybody goes home
thinking the other pilots are clueless dorks!

Classic case of a little knowledge being a dangerous think, I think. A
problem which I fear is endemic in american soaring due to the somewhat
inconsistent skills of our instructors, god bless them.

Kirk
66


We don't know the facts that might apply to the situation between the
examiner and the applicant so we can't comment. I would assume the DPE had
a very good reason for his decision.

But, to address the situation of stuck-open spoilers, I would exercise my
authority under FAR 91.3(b) and "land the damn aircraft the safest way I
could" regardless of landing direction. Spoilers are a primary flight
control and stuck-open spoilers is a full fledged emergency requiring
decisive action. FAR 91.3b allows any reasonable deviation from the regs
needed to achieve a safe landing. This is not to suggest any FARs were
broken.

Bill Daniels