Glider Cross-country signoff & FARs

In article ,
Judy Ruprecht wrote:
At 19:30 21 January 2004, Mark James Boyd wrote:
...
If (student pilots) haven't disassembled and reassembled
a glider, that's in direct
violation of US CFR 61.87(i)(13).

No, it's not. The FAR cited requires pre-solo training
in procedures for assembly/disassembly. This can be
done by thorough ground instruction & reference to
one or more pertinent flight manuals. It's also good
practice to discuss personnel & equipment required
and remove interior panel(s) as needed to show students
the main pins, control connections and other items,
but an actual assembly or disassembly is not required.


Judy

61.87(i) requires flight training for the procedure...
but who does assembly or disassembly in flight?

OK Judy, I'll bite. Is the word "procedures" what allows
someone to talk about it but not actually do it? Following
this logic, is it OK to solo someone without ever having
them actually do a "pattern entry" 61.87(i)(5), since only
"pattern entry procedures" are required? Just have them
do nothing but fly in the pattern? Or to never have them actually
fly the aerotow, ground tow, or self-launch because all one
had to teach was the "procedure" 61.87(i)(12)?

In practice and practical interpretation, you may be
absolutely correct, but this is certainly NOT a
clear interpretation of the printed wording...

Of course requiring "flight training" in disassembly procedures
seems a little strange too...since I would think flight
training would be conducted in flight :P