Tom Knauff's newsletter

"Soarin Again" wrote in message
...
At 11:43 01 July 2008, Gary Emerson wrote:
snips
Now, back to the original point. There ARE some number of people who
have mis-understood the rudder wag signal. Tom's solution is to blame
those people and he's mostly right. I'm not saying that there aren't

plenty of people flying today who couldn't pass the FAA written right
now, but IF (big IF) a different signal could be developed that was LESS

prone to confusion with the rock off signal we might keep a couple of
people from at least crashing, if not dying. IF the towpilot is giving
the rudder wag signal to someone, that gliderpilot is probably already
in a stressful situation because the tow isn't going well. True, they
should be more prepared, but if a different signal could be developed
that helped, wouldn't we all be better off?

Changing the signal, mandating radios, prohibiting tow pilots
from giving the appropriate signal until pattern altitude?
We only have 3 signals that the tow plane can give the glider
while on tow and each signal is easily distinguished from the
other. Let's quit making excuses for pilots who simply don't
consider it important enough to bother to know the tow signals.
Yes in many cases poor initial instruction and deficient flight
reviews contributes to their poor attitude regarding the signals.
But just ask anyone who routinely does field checks or flight
reviews particularly for transient pilots and they can tell you
how unimportant many glider pilots consider the tow signals.

If we want to reduce the accidents resulting from pilots not
knowing (not misinterpreting) the rudder wag. Examiners
need to routinely include all of the signals on flight tests,
instructors must always include all of the signals on tow
during training and flight reviews, and finally glider pilots
need to accept that they have a responsibility to know and
practice the signals. Otherwise are destined to continue seeing
pilots release from tow rather than simply closing their spoilers.

Does it seem strange to anyone else that apparently tow pilots
don't seem to have the same confusion about what signal to give
a spoiler open glider?

This is a golden opportunity for the Soaring Safety Foundation
to actually impact the accident rate. They should lobby to get
all signals on tow incorporrated into a specific task in all of the
Practical Test Standards for gliders.



It's already in the FAR's. To pass a Biannual Flight Review, (BFR) you have
to meet the skill and knowledge requirements of the rating you hold. Flight
instructors giving BFR's are now required to test BFR candidates to that
level.

The rudder wag signals are part of that test.

So, if you can't pass the written test, don't expect an instructor to sign
off your next BFR.

Bill D