Landout Laws

A few years ago I was participating in our club ASA contest series. The
first day I landed out about 50 miles away at a private residential
airstrip. Of course, the inhabitants were extremely welcoming. The met me
with a golf cart, pushed my glider off the runway, immediately got me my
cold drink of choice (Diet Coke), drove me all around the area showing me
each resident's personal aircraft. At each stop we made, we picked up a new
friend so by the time the towplane arrived and I was taking off I had about
20 wing runners and quite a send-off of waving hands.

The next day, also a contest day, I landed (yes) at the same airport and was
immediately met with "we were hoping to see you again but we didn't think it
would be this soon...you like Diet Coke, right?" It was kind of embarassing
but I had another nice afternoon waiting for the towplane.

I would like to add that being a female I pay particular attention to where
I might have to land. I know that because of that I am not as bold as some
of my male friends in pushing out a flight. I am more conscious of staying
in gliding range of a hospitable landing place than say a dilapidated farm
out in the middle of nowhere. I just am more aware that there still may be
problems to face after I land. And if I do have to land out in a field
somewhere I tend to land away from buildings because I really don't want
anyone to see me, I just don't know who or what I'll run into. I'm not
overly paranoid, just cautious. (I also don't walk through dark parking
lots at night.) But I do absolutely love flying cross-country, the farther,
the faster, the better.

Barb