Why not put an audible variometer in every glider?

In article Martin Gregorie writes:
On Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:12:00 -0700, son_of_flubber wrote:

"CFI-Gs largely hold sway over how we equip our trainers. Many CFI-Gs
just want the student to pass the PTS ASAP, and basic skill with a
audible variometer is not part of the PTS."

If a student isn't taught the elements of soaring during basic glider
training, why would anybody expect him to stick around for long? I should
think that flying a glider without having the necessary soaring skills
would get boring rather fast.

But, why do you need an audio vario to do that?

I learned to soar in a pair of gliders with mechanical varios. One of
them did not have a TE probe. For a while, early on, I considered getting
one of the hang-gliding audio-only varios, but eventually abandoned that
idea.

Much later, when I was out in a higher performance glider, we decided to
turn the volume down on that annoying thing.

Alan

On Tuesday, June 4, 2013 3:36:36 AM UTC-4, Alan wrote:

Much later, when I was out in a higher performance glider, we decided to
turn the volume down on that annoying thing.

Sounds like your training rooted you in the somewhat less safe habit of looking at the vario needle when you could be scanning for traffic.

On Tue, 04 Jun 2013 07:36:36 +0000, Alan wrote:

In article Martin Gregorie
writes:
On Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:12:00 -0700, son_of_flubber wrote:

"CFI-Gs largely hold sway over how we equip our trainers. Many CFI-Gs
just want the student to pass the PTS ASAP, and basic skill with a
audible variometer is not part of the PTS."

If a student isn't taught the elements of soaring during basic glider
training, why would anybody expect him to stick around for long? I
should think that flying a glider without having the necessary soaring
skills would get boring rather fast.

But, why do you need an audio vario to do that?

You don't, but nonetheless all my clubs gliders, both single and two
seat, now have both audio varios and FLARM fitted. The benefit of a good
audio vario is that you can find and utilise a thermal without needing to
look at the thing or taking your eyes off the other gliders in the
thermal. We're a big club, so our airspace gets busy sometimes and
multiply occupied thermals near the field are common, so both instruments
are decidedly worthwhile for their safety aspect.

What set me going was the comment that "Many CFI-Gs just want the student
to pass the PTS ASAP" remark: I'd say that IMO if a student is sent solo
without having being taught the basics of finding, centring and using
thermals safely and efficiently then his CFI-G hasn't done his job
properly.

And, before you ask, I think thermalling basics include being able to
join a multiply occupied thermal, climb in it without upsetting the other
occupants and leave it heading in the right direction without causing any
near misses or frights.



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