Towpilots ignoring turn signals

Originally Posted by kirk.stant

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 12:51:55 PM UTC-5, Bob Pasker wrote:
So, I was getting my first tow at a very busy and very well-respected gliderport, and I saw an area where I wanted to go, so I shift a plane's width opposite the turn direction and stayed there. The tow pilot kept going straight ahead. OK, maybe he didn't see me, or maybe like a fishing guide he is taking me to a secret spot with 10kts of lift.

Next day, different tow pilot, similar turn request, no response. When I asked the second tow pilot back on the ground, he says he didn't notice it.. They never pay attention to the position of the gliders because the glider pilots don't know how to stay on tow, and deviations are just an example of their poor flying habits.

--bob

A plane's width? Not nearly enough! Seriously, you need to get WAY out there,smoothly, and stay there until the tow pilot notices the yaw and lets you drag his tail around - which he will to by simply taking his feet off the rudder pedals. But a radio is really better....

But it's always a good idea to talk to your tow pilot after a tow where anything goes out of the ordinary. Better yet, brief him before the tow, and practice some signals in both direction, including slowly deploying your spoilers (looking for the rudder waggle) and ending with a simulated engine power loss and rock-off at release altitude; makes the tow more interesting for both parties.

Kirk
66

Spot on in everything you have said in this post.....as a tow pilot with over 1200 tows in the last 6 months I have seen every thing imaginable in back of me...As a glider pilot I know every house thermal locally and try to take new, non local pilots to the best lift. I also try to take them to thermals being worked by other glider pilots but I will not take you completely into that thermal, just close enough to join. Some show up with hand held radios with weak batteries incapable of contacting the tow plane 200 feet ahead. I'm fine with a tail tug but as pointed out, it must be smooth and adequate enough to be recognized, when I'm standing on the rudder I will get the message, just don't do it too low...after 1000 feet it's okay. That being said, many glider pilots fly so out of position that one cannot tell what their intentions might be. I've given the wing wag telling the glider to get off with no response.....when there is a solid overcast and I'm within 500 feet of the bottoms I will let you know with the proper signal....you do NOT have the option to ignore my signal as I might also have something wrong with my tug...We try to give everyone the best service we can under the conditions in which we fly. Perhaps there should be a new FAA requirement that ALL glider pilots spend some time in a two place tug flying tow, they might gain an appreciation for what the tow pilot does. We have had one guy with tons of flying experience qualify and fly 3 tows only to declare that flying tow is for DARE DEVILS, and give it up. .... I've only had one bad experience with someone getting way high on me, I can tell you it's not a pleasant situation and he came very close to getting dropped..... Remember folks, if the tug pilot doesn't show up......you're going nowhere.

Walt Connelly
Tow Pilot/ Commercial Glider Pilot and all round nice guy.