Pros and Cons of winch launching:

PROS:

1) A new professionally built winch will probably cost less than a new
towing aircraft. If you build your own from scrap automobile/truck parts
it will cost considerably less.

2) A winch doesn't require a highly qualified and certificated driver,
Certificates of Airworthiness, 50 hour checks, etc, etc. Some routine
maintenance is required though.

3) Low carbon footprint. A winch launch consumes less than a fifth of the
fuel required for an aerotow

4) No aircraft noise complaints.

5) Given proper training and pilot awareness, it's pretty safe.

6) Winch launching is cheap; at our club less than a third of the cost of
a 2000ft aerotow, even with professional winch drivers. So ideal for
training and circuit bashing. A decent soaring pilot can usually get away
from the sort of heights achieved, in the right conditions.

7) You don't have to learn accurate formation flying behind a tug.

8) You are unlikely to kill the winch operator, as opposed to a tug pilot
who can be killed if you get too high or too out of position.

9) Above all IT'S FUN.

CONS:

1) Launch height is limited by by the length of the cable run and the
headwind component. On a still day you will at best get about 45% of the
cable run. Launching directly into a headwind will improve this.

2) You can't get towed to a source of lift, such as a cumulus cloud or a
ridge. You always end up right over the winch.

3) Pilots need to be fairly well trained and switched on to deal with
launch failures and cable breaks.

4) Winch Cables may conflict with power flying at a mixed operation site.

Derek Copeland