Mandatory Radios

The majority of clubs and FBO's in Region 11 have gone to a mandatory
radio policy after the recent midair where the tow plane and glider
collided turning final. The tow plane was not radio equipped and
therefore didn't know (hear) that the glider was turning final from
the other direction. That makes 4 fatalities in this region caused by
lack of communication between the tow pilot and glider!

Several clubs are using hand-held radios for ships that don't have
radios. I flew last Sunday with a hand-held radio and it took some
getting use to. First off, where do you put it so you can hear the
speaker? Also, I found transmitting combersome................pick it
up with left hand, turn the mike toward you and squeeze key while
flying with right hand. Then I clipped it to the right side of my
collar using the big spring clip on the radio. That worked well as it
was clase enough to hear and simply rotate and press the mike button
to transmit. I believe students would need some guidance like this to
be able to make the required radio calls using a hand-held radio. It
looks like most tow pilots are using helmets with head-sets so they
can hear their radios. Also, a com-check before takeoff is essential
to make sure both radios are on and working, volume up, squelch set
and on the correct frequency. I used the $200 ICOM from Wings & Wheels
and found it quite satisfactory.

We can survive a lot of things in this sport, but running into each
other isn't one of them!
JJ

On Feb 5, 9:16*am, JJ Sinclair wrote:
The majority of clubs and FBO's in Region 11 have gone to a mandatory
radio policy after the recent midair where the tow plane and glider
collided turning final. The tow plane was not radio equipped and
therefore didn't know (hear) that the glider was turning final from
the other direction. That makes 4 fatalities in this region caused by
lack of communication between the tow pilot and glider!

Several clubs are using hand-held radios for ships that don't have
radios. I flew last Sunday with a hand-held radio and it took some
getting use to. First off, where do you put it so you can hear the
speaker? Also, I found transmitting combersome................pick it
up with left hand, turn the mike toward you and squeeze key while
flying with right hand. Then I clipped it to the right side of my
collar using the big spring clip on the radio. That worked well as it
was clase enough to hear and simply rotate and press the mike button
to transmit. I believe students would need some guidance like this to
be able to make the required radio calls using a hand-held radio. It
looks like most tow pilots are using helmets with head-sets so they
can hear their radios. Also, a com-check before takeoff is essential
to make sure both radios are on and working, volume up, squelch set
and on the correct frequency. I used the $200 ICOM from Wings & Wheels
and found it quite satisfactory.

We can survive a lot of things in this sport, but running into each
other isn't one of them!
JJ

When I flew with a handheld I had it set up so I could plug a little
Plantronics earpiece/mic into it. It just clipped onto my glasses. I
also set up a little PTT switch for my stick. Of course this was more
of a permanent install than having a club member carry a handheld in
the club glider with them. I found it much less cumbersome. A loose
radio in the cockpit is not just an annoyance but could be a major
safety issue itself. All that said I'm much happier with my panel
mounted Microair 760, but thats a little more money than the handheld
cost me.

On Feb 5, 9:21*am, Tony wrote:
On Feb 5, 9:16*am, JJ Sinclair wrote:





The majority of clubs and FBO's in Region 11 have gone to a mandatory
radio policy after the recent midair where the tow plane and glider
collided turning final. The tow plane was not radio equipped and
therefore didn't know (hear) that the glider was turning final from
the other direction. That makes 4 fatalities in this region caused by
lack of communication between the tow pilot and glider!

Several clubs are using hand-held radios for ships that don't have
radios. I flew last Sunday with a hand-held radio and it took some
getting use to. First off, where do you put it so you can hear the
speaker? Also, I found transmitting combersome................pick it
up with left hand, turn the mike toward you and squeeze key while
flying with right hand. Then I clipped it to the right side of my
collar using the big spring clip on the radio. That worked well as it
was clase enough to hear and simply rotate and press the mike button
to transmit. I believe students would need some guidance like this to
be able to make the required radio calls using a hand-held radio. It
looks like most tow pilots are using helmets with head-sets so they
can hear their radios. Also, a com-check before takeoff is essential
to make sure both radios are on and working, volume up, squelch set
and on the correct frequency. I used the $200 ICOM from Wings & Wheels
and found it quite satisfactory.

We can survive a lot of things in this sport, but running into each
other isn't one of them!
JJ

When I flew with a handheld I had it set up so I could plug a little
Plantronics earpiece/mic into it. It just clipped onto my glasses. *I
also set up a little PTT switch for my stick. *Of course this was more
of a permanent install than having a club member carry a handheld in
the club glider with them. *I found it much less cumbersome. *A loose
radio in the cockpit is not just an annoyance but could be a major
safety issue itself. *All that said I'm much happier with my panel
mounted Microair 760, but thats a little more money than the handheld
cost me.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

As Tony says a remote mic/speaker on a handheld makes them much easier
to use. I personally have an old Icom A-22. I first used it in the
2-33 without the remote mic, and it was a pain to use during landings.
In order to hear properly I clipped it on the shoulder harness, and
all that bulk was uncomfortable. With the remote speaker/mic you can
just clip the little extender to your collar (just like the cops), and
secure the radio in a much more convenient location.

http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/5499

The handheld is still not as nice as a panel mounted radio, but in my
opinion it is a vital safety tool.

Pete

"JJ Sinclair" wrote in message
...
First off, where do you put it so you can hear the
speaker? Also, I found transmitting combersome................pick it
up with left hand, turn the mike toward you and squeeze key while
flying with right hand. Then I clipped it to the right side of my
collar using the big spring clip on the radio. That worked well as it
was clase enough to hear and simply rotate and press the mike button
to transmit.

I simply wear mine around my neck on a breakaway lanyard. I can hear it fine,
it is always handy for either hand, and never adrift.

Vaughn

Just a reminder to all those handhelds floating around you cockpit to
have them is a SAFE and SECURE location

http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?e...06X00809&key=1

Accident occurred Saturday, May 10, 2008 in Gregory, MI
Aircraft: Schleicher AS-K13, registration: N24BS
Injuries: 1 Serious.

The glider pilot reported that before hooking-up to the tow plane he
reviewed the preflight checklist and verified that the flight controls
were connected and unobstructed. The initial takeoff roll was normal
with the glider becoming airborne prior to the tow plane. The glider
pilot applied forward stick pressure to remain in ground effect and in
proper position relative to the tow plane, which was still
accelerating on its takeoff roll. After the tow plane became airborne
the glider began to climb above proper tow position. The glider pilot
stated that he "could not push the stick all the way forward to lower
the nose" and the glider continued to climb out of tow position. The
glider pilot released from the towline when he no longer had the tow
plane in sight. After releasing from the towline, the glider resumed a
level pitch attitude and began to decelerate. The pilot selected full
nose down trim, in response to his limited pitch control. The glider
continued to decelerate and subsequently landed hard on the turf
runway. The main landing gear and aft fuselage tubular support
structure was substantially damaged during the hard landing. Both
wingtips were damaged and there were several fabric tears on the left
wing and fuselage. After exiting the glider, the pilot found his
handheld communication radio on the cockpit floor. The pilot said that
during takeoff the radio must have fallen off his seat onto the
cockpit floor, restricting the movement of the control stick. The
pilot reported that the accident might have been prevented if the
glider had a method to secure a handheld radio and the preflight
checklists included a task to identify if there were any unrestrained
items in the cockpit area.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable
cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to adequately secure his handheld radio prior to
takeoff, which resulted in a restriction of the flight control stick
and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the stall/mush
flight condition encountered after the glider released from the
towline.

On Feb 5, 10:42 am, Todd wrote:

the glider began to climb above proper tow position. The glider pilot
stated that he "could not push the stick all the way forward to lower
the nose"

snip

The pilot selected full nose down trim, in response to his limited pitch control.

This is off-topic, but... he did the exact opposite of what should
have been done, didn't he?

Bart

Yep.

If you have a trim tab, remember: "elevator disconnected - use trim
normally. elevator frozen - use trim backwards."
I haven't thought of a good mnemonic for this, however.

If you don't have a trim tab, never mind.

-Pat


The pilot selected full nose down trim, in response to his limited pitch control.

This is off-topic, but... he did the exact opposite of what should
have been done, didn't he?

Bart

On Feb 5, 11:34*am, Pat Russell wrote:
Yep.

If you have a trim tab, remember: *"elevator disconnected - use trim
normally. *elevator frozen - use trim backwards."
I haven't thought of a good mnemonic for this, however.

If you don't have a trim tab, never mind.

-Pat



The pilot selected full nose down trim, in response to his limited pitch control.

This is off-topic, but... he did the exact opposite of what should
have been done, didn't he?

Bart

trim TAB, not to be confused with spring or bungee trim?

Brad

On Feb 5, 12:39*pm, Brad wrote:
On Feb 5, 11:34*am, Pat Russell wrote:





Yep.

If you have a trim tab, remember: *"elevator disconnected - use trim
normally. *elevator frozen - use trim backwards."
I haven't thought of a good mnemonic for this, however.

If you don't have a trim tab, never mind.

-Pat

The pilot selected full nose down trim, in response to his limited pitch control.

This is off-topic, but... he did the exact opposite of what should
have been done, didn't he?

Bart

trim TAB, not to be confused with spring or bungee trim?

Brad- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Absolutely. Spring or Bungee will do NOTHING if the stick is stuck.
Trim tab will act as a tiny elevator working OPPOSITE from the trim
function if the stick is stuck. The Twin Astir runs out of elevator in
a steep turn with max pilots weight. You can get significantly more
up elevator by pushing the trim FORWARD.

On Feb 5, 5:31*pm, Uncle Fuzzy wrote:
On Feb 5, 12:39*pm, Brad wrote:





On Feb 5, 11:34*am, Pat Russell wrote:

Yep.

If you have a trim tab, remember: *"elevator disconnected - use trim
normally. *elevator frozen - use trim backwards."
I haven't thought of a good mnemonic for this, however.

If you don't have a trim tab, never mind.

-Pat

The pilot selected full nose down trim, in response to his limited pitch control.

This is off-topic, but... he did the exact opposite of what should
have been done, didn't he?

Bart

trim TAB, not to be confused with spring or bungee trim?

Brad- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Absolutely. *Spring or Bungee will do NOTHING if the stick is stuck.
Trim tab will act as a tiny elevator working OPPOSITE from the trim
function if the stick is stuck. The Twin Astir runs out of elevator in
a steep turn with max pilots weight. *You can get significantly more
up elevator by pushing the trim FORWARD.

Getting back on topic. I have a vertex and experienced the same
frustrations. My wife gave me the remote mic/speaker and it freed up
my hands tremendously.

Lane