On 10/19/2015 8:45 AM, kirk.stant wrote:
On Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 4:55:28 PM UTC-5, Waveguru wrote:
IMHO every pilot should know 10 different ways to land safely, instead of
only one way, to perfection. Accident statistics back up this idea. Many
landing accidents happen because a pilot is trying to fly "the same"
pattern when something totally different is called for.

And glider pilots should be taught to turn their aircraft. If you've
never turned your plane off of the runway, you are not going to turn in
an emergency when you need to. Over the years I've seen several gliders
taxi straight into other aircraft, when turning into a smooth field next
to the runway was a completely viable option.

Boggs

Interesting, I just had this discussion with one of the old-time CFIGs in
our club (flies an ASW-19 but not XC), and he is strongly opposed to
experienced pilots maneuvering on the field after landing; says it sets a
bad example for the students (who are taught to roll out straight).
Needless to say, I strongly disagreed with him, pointing out that the
ability to land out of any pattern, and roll out exactly where you
want/need to go, is an important skill that needs to be taught, even if the
PTS doesn't require it!

Then again, he isn't much impressed by my low approaches and circling
patterns to a landing, either...

Kirk 66


Doing my bit to setting a record for thread drift...

I ran into this particular "disconnect" when still obtaining my license; back
then I might've even been sufficiently inexperienced in the ways of human
nature to've bet Real Money it was a passing thing...the "disconnect" I mean.
Yeah, I was that naive!

The "disconnect" to which I refer is that between proponents of training and
flying *ONLY* to practical test standards (PTS) and those who understand the
PTS are but an arbitrary standard that also open a door to a lifetime of
learning about (in this case) soaring. Yeah, for some of the particularly
unfortunate, unlucky or downright deserving, the lifetime may prove pretty
short, but the reality is - given "a normal lifetime" - no one ever continues
flying to only PTS...nor - IMNSHO - should they, particularly if XC (advertent
*or* inadvertent) is in their future.

The reality is every soaring sword is double-edged. Learning how to turn a
rolling-out glider is a useful skill; I've also seen it lead to "convenience
collisions" when used inadvisedly. That's just the way it is. And (as I know)
the Boggs and Kirks of the world understand, not all gliders turn the same way
when rolling out. Duh? Not according to some of those pilots who've had
convenience collisions, I'll bet!

As to the disconnect and its ongoing "weaponizing" in gliderport
conversations-n-criticism, if I take the "Thou shall NOT do anything at your
home gliderport that does not meet PTS," to its logical conclusion, it begs
the question where shall/should Joe Gliderpilot begin to expand his skill set?

This situation seems to me nothing more than yet another superb teaching
opportunity, and to not use it as such lies somewhere between missing an
opportunity, and downright irresponsible.

And before CFIGs jump down my throat, remember the double-edged sword bit. Not
every display of "beyond PTS skills" at the home gliderport is a paragon of
*individual* safety, not to mention group safety...so why not teach it that way?

Bob W.