Keep your hand off the release handle during aero tows!

We have had a couple of minor accidents at our site where a
glider has dropped a wing on aerotow and lost directional
control. One of there involved a competition glider striking some
spectators, causing injuries. The holding the release knob thing
is really for winch launching, where things can go horribly wrong
very quickly, but there is also a case for doing so in the early
stages of an aerotow. If you lose directional control, you can pull
off before you gain too much energy. You should not reset flaps
until good aileron control has been established anyway. Some
people like to keep their airbrakes open for the first few
seconds, as this is supposed to improve aileron control (I'm not
convinced), so you would need a third arm to do this, hold the
stick and hold the release knob. The other good reason is that if
you are already holding the release knob, you are less likely to
pull the wrong knob in an emergency. As an instructor, I have
had students operate the airbrakes, open the canopy or retract
the wheel when trying to release from tow!

Derek Copeland


At 16:36 04 October 2013, wrote:
I have seen several videos on youtube lately where the glider
pilot holds
t=
he tow release handle during all parts tow. I've been told it is
taught
th=
is way by some in the UK. Sorry to pick on you folks on the
other side of
=
the pond as I love your country and can't wait to come over
and glide with
=
you in the next few years. =20

It seems to me that holding the handle during aero tow is a
recipe for
disa=
ster eventually.

We have all hit big bumps and turbulence down low on tow.
Why risk
accident=
ally pulling the release at 50ft or 100ft in the air? If you are
saying
it=
is so that you can immediately pull the handle if something
goes bad on
to=
w, it might not be a good enough reason due to the risks of a
accidental
re=
lease. Keep your hand on your knee or the flaps handle right
next to the
r=
elease and I bet you can pull it just as quickly and you don't
have to
worr=
y about messing up a perfectly good tow down low. Am I
missing something
he=
re?

Your thoughts? This just seems like a big safety mistake and I
would hate
f=
or people who see these videos and then think it is the right
and correct
t=
hing to do.

Have fun and fly safe,
Bruno - B4
www.youtube.com/bviv