On Wednesday, May 7, 2014 12:40:09 PM UTC-6, Don Johnstone wrote:
At 17:01 07 May 2014, kirk.stant wrote:

On Wednesday, May 7, 2014 10:34:48 AM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:

=20

The point is when conditions allow, a pilot should know how to turn

back

=

safely.



Precisely. It's called airmanship - knowing how to handle your plane in

an=

y conceivable situation.



If you aren't practicing something new and unusual (or at least thinking

ab=

out it) on every flight, you are limiting your growth as a pilot.



My one real PTT happened at Turf Soaring (Pleasant Valley Airport) many

yea=

rs ago, giving a ride in old 66W - a beat up old 2-32. Tow rope was

hooked=

up incorrectly (muddy) and released just past the end of the runway

(takin=

g off to the East) at what i guess was around 150 - 200 ft, no more. No

go=

od options other than turning back or landing in the desert; so I turned

ba=

ck...and had enough energy to roll back up to the surprised line boy who

ha=

d just launched me. Turned the glider around, hooked up again, and the

cus=

tomer got his full ride the second time.



BUT--conditions were calm with light winds and no lift; and the tow was

fas=

t - and it was pretty easy to whip that big old beast around in a steep

tur=

n and bring it back to land, as I had a lot of time in 2-32s at the time..

N=

ever felt that I was too low during the turn, but didn't even try getting

r=

eal slow (if you have time in 2-32s you will appreciate why!).



Yes, it can be done. But you have to know your plane WELL, and have the

ri=

ght conditions, and fully understand the consequences of pooching it!



Get out there and practice!



Kirk

66



and that dear reader illustrates the problem nicely. Emergency procedures

do not have to be formulated for experienced thinking pilots. I would like

to think that I could get away with doing what Kirk has done. Emergency

procedures have to be formulated for the lowest common denominator, would a

low launches pilot be able to achieve success? Would a relatively

experience pilot who is flying minimum launches per year cope with it? That

is what formulating procedures is all about, having something that everyone

can achieve, not just the top 10%.

So, if the dumbest, least competent guy on the airfield might not be able to pull it off the UK solution is to eliminate the requirement for everybody? Talk about dumbing down.

I'm absolutely sure I can pull off at turn back and I'm certain my students can as well. I'll probably have to when I take a check ride in a couple of weeks in a 2-32. If so, the examiner will give me no warning whatsoever when he pulls the release at 200' AGL on departure. No sweat - even though there's no off field options.

I've had it happen for real many times including a couple of "What's this gizmo do?" on ride flights. I've watched post solo students pull it off when a rope broke. If we had not trained for this skill, we wouldn't be here. It's a lifesaver.