Keep your hand off the release handle during aero tows!

On Thursday, October 10, 2013 4:05:22 AM UTC-6, Terry Walsh wrote:
Fred,



I did not intend this as a comment against Americans I know equally

arrogant people of many different national origins. I was simply commenting

that if this indeed Bill Daniels then he could be considered to be an

expert on winch operations, but his apparent refusal to accept any other

opinion than his own was more than a little arrogant.

I've let the UK "echo chamber" run a bit so they can all congratulate each other for fuzzy thinking.

Arrogant? Indignant and angry are a better words. Every time you screw up, it has enormous impact outside the UK. When those screw-ups are based on institutionalized nonsense, and you try to export that nonsense, it makes me angry. An example is the winch launch section in the 2013 Glider Flying Handbook.

The main source of my guidance isn't from the US, or my own imagination, it's the German SDO Segelflugbetriebsordnung. It contains about the best information on winch launch safety available.

The US stands accused of "doing few winch launches". That's true. Compared to the roughly one million annual launches in Germany, the UK doesn't do many either. That, and their superb safety record, makes Germany a far better source of safety information.

If you want an educational approach, read my thoughts on the acceleration phase and acceleration induced uncommanded rotation.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...celeration.pdf