Differences in Italian vs US soaring instruction?

Hi Gail,

There is actually no prescribed direction to turn at
release of tow in the UK.
You can turn either way, and I do. However, most people
do assume that it is 'Turn left off tow'
What kind of nasty accident do you imagine might happen
if you turn left instead of right or vice versa?




At 15:06 16 July 2003, Gail wrote:

PTS accuracy landing, whats that. In UK all landings
are supposed to be
accurate.

Here...here! Although having said that, my parking
isn't always quite as
elegant as it should be, but then my excuse is that
I'm a novice pilot with
only a mere 130+ hours.

Talking of international differences, I was talking
to a German glider pilot
recently and we were discussing aerotows. When I suggested
that we (glider
pilots in the UK) release and climb left, he said 'oh,
in Germany its the
other way around, we release and climb right!' I'm
glad I found this out
early it might have saved me from a nasty accident
in the future.

The curious thing about all of this is I would have
thought that all FAI
members would have subscribed to the same standards
but it seems not so.


Gail

On 16 Jul 2003 16:39:49 GMT, Simon Walker
wrote:


Hi Gail,

There is actually no prescribed direction to turn at
release of tow in the UK.
You can turn either way, and I do. However, most people
do assume that it is 'Turn left off tow'
What kind of nasty accident do you imagine might happen
if you turn left instead of right or vice versa?

On my one and only flight in a glider in the UK(Astir 77) I turned
right off tow and so did the towplane! I could see the dirty look the
pilot was giving me. I was told later the glider turns left off tow in
the UK.
In Australia the glider turns right, the towplane turns left. This
guarantees that the two lose sight fo each other and yes we have had a
mid air due to this. As the fighter pilots say " lost sight - lost
fight"

Maybe we should organise things so the two keep sight of each other
until positive separation has been established?

Mike Borgelt

Two pilots in my club have recently completed an assistant instructors
course in the UK. Apparently they are now being taught not to turn, but to
achieve separation from the tug by climbing (i.e. slowing down) straight
ahead.

Stephen

"Mike Borgelt" wrote in message
...
On 16 Jul 2003 16:39:49 GMT, Simon Walker
wrote:


Hi Gail,

There is actually no prescribed direction to turn at
release of tow in the UK.
You can turn either way, and I do. However, most people
do assume that it is 'Turn left off tow'
What kind of nasty accident do you imagine might happen
if you turn left instead of right or vice versa?

On my one and only flight in a glider in the UK(Astir 77) I turned
right off tow and so did the towplane! I could see the dirty look the
pilot was giving me. I was told later the glider turns left off tow in
the UK.
In Australia the glider turns right, the towplane turns left. This
guarantees that the two lose sight fo each other and yes we have had a
mid air due to this. As the fighter pilots say " lost sight - lost
fight"

Maybe we should organise things so the two keep sight of each other
until positive separation has been established?

Mike Borgelt

"Stephen Cook" s comments read:

Two pilots in my club have recently completed an assistant instructors
course in the UK. Apparently they are now being taught not to turn, but to
achieve separation from the tug by climbing (i.e. slowing down) straight
ahead.

Which would mirror my recent flight with the National Coach who said
"climb to achieve separation"
--
Tim - ASW20CL "20"