At 03:36 15 February 2004, Chip Bearden wrote:
If you haven't damaged anything, be nice but try to
avoid bending to
extortion demands. I'm not a lawyer but my impression
is that if the
farmer refuses to let you secure your glider, he assumes
liability if
anything should occur. Most officers of the law are
likely to be
helpful in this regard even if they're friendly with
the owner. If it
starts to get tense, insisting on calling the local
police/sheriff
often helps cool things down; the irate owner usually
doesn't expect
the trespasser to call the police.

A couple of years ago, I landed out while flying from
the Blue Ridge Soaring Society's field in New Castle,
VA. While I was only seven miles or so from the airfield,
the owner of the field I landed in wasn't very pleased.
In my case, there was no need to call for law enforcement
because I landed in the field owned by the County Sheriff.
When I approached the house nearest to the field,
I noticed a sheriff's car in the driveway. Was the
sheriff there on business? No, he lived there. As
the door opened, it's opening was filled with a big
man in a clean, pressed with razor-sharp creases, uniform.
Oh yes, there was a BIG gun in the holster around
his hips. Oh boy.

He was a bit miffed. He explained while motioning
with his hands, 'I've had gliders land in this field
and I've had gliders land in that field, BUT I'VE NEVER
HAD A GLIDER LAND IN MY HAY FIELD.' Gulp. He continued,
'But, it is the smoothest field.' I didn't say anything.

He didn't ask for anything and he didn't get ugly.
He just told me to drive the retrieve car as close
to the fence inside the field as possible and don't
drive right down through the hay. The time of year
was early May and the 'orchard grass' hay was about
a foot high.

I tried my best at 'Land-Out Diplomacy' and I hope
the next time someone (it could be me) lands in that
same hay field, the Sheriff will be understanding.

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA