Landout Laws

Steve Hopkins wrote:

I think it is Cambridge GC in England that instituted
a fantastic land-out diplomatic policy. Pilots, landing
out, issued an invitation to the farmer and his wife
to the club's annual dinner dance. Not only did this
do wonders for public relations, I think they even
managed to snag a few new flying members. I heard a
wonderful tale of a local farmer telephoning the club
rather concerned that he was going to miss the annual
dinner dance. He added that he had kept the field mown
and had erected a wind sock but that nobody had landed
in his field that year!

A variation on the theme is the Farmer's Wine and Cheese Party at Lasham-
been going since the 1960s. I believe at one time it was even in the
social events diary in "Farmer's Weekly". I've also, when flying in the
south of England had farmers asking if I could get then an invite.

Another approach used by some British clubs is the aerotow trial lesson
voucher- it generates goodwill and only costs the pilot money if the person
he gives it to actually shows up to take the ride.
--
Soar the big sky
The real name on the left is richard

I've been following this thread with interest. As I was reading it I was
also updating my landout site database. Starting with
http://www.airstripamerica.com/ and http://www.airnav.com/airports/us, I
looked for runways in the area that I plan to be flying which would
accomodate the 20+ meter span of the Nimbus 2C.

In about three weeks I am planning a two day road trip to southern Colorado
and northern New Mexico to eyeball, measure and photograph a bunch of these
potential landing sites. I will post the pictures and information to the
Airstrip America web site as they request so other glider pilots can use the
information. I suggest that it would be a good idea for all of us to do
this for everyones benefit.

One duster strip is strategically located on the second leg of a proposed
500K triangle and the owners e-mail address was listed. I e-mailed him to
ask about the width of his dirt runway and whether I might use it in an
emergency. He replied, "Why sure, it's plenty wide." "Drop in anytime!"

Based on some of the inputs by r.a.s. members in this thread, I will also
ask the AG pilots at the various strips I visit which farms and ranches to
avoid. I expect they will know a lot about their customers.

Bill Daniels

Actually I don't blame the farmers too much. Take Dayton duster strip, about 20
miles N/E of Minden. His gate was unlocked and the road led right through his
ranch complex (home & barn) His strip got a lot of use, because it was the last
place to land before the mountains blocked the way home from the North. Some
crews didn't even stop and ask permission at the ranch house and would just
drive right through his yard, leaving a cloud of dust on their way to his
duster strip. His gate was left wide open on several occasions. little wonder
he finally said. NO MORE.

That ranch is now a million dollar aviation & golfing complex with a nice long,
paved runway. Guess what? A local tow-pilot reported them to the Reno FSDO,
because their runway markers were too close to the runway (a glider hit one as
it was being aero-towed out). RIGHT BACK to SQUARE ONE. Gliders are no longer
welcome there. I believe one can land there, but aero-towing out is forbidden,
because they might hit one of their *illegal* runway markers.
JJ Sinclair