Aerotowing Gliders
A guide to towing gliders, with an emphasis on safety
by
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If there is a problem with the tug, the pilot should immediately release the tow rope. This has two functions:
• Firstly, it immediately increases the separation between tug and glider
• Secondly and most importantly, once the glider pilot sees they are ‘pushing the rope’ they are likely to be fairly convinced that getting airborne is improbable and should now be prepared for the subsequent ground run and avoiding the tug.
The tug pilot should consider stopping ahead if there is sufficient space, but do so without heavy braking if possible and attempt to steer gently to one side if safe. At any point beyond this, be aware of the possibility of the glider rolling into the tug - the tug brakes are usually much more effective than the glider’s. The danger point is while the tug is still firmly on the ground and a light glider lifts into ground effect, losing the ability to stop quickly.
If the glider pilot aborts the tow it could be safer to climb away, leaving the runway clear for the glider, and continue into the circuit with a similar procedure as for a go around. If the tug pilot aborts the tow because of, say lower than expected RPM, consider releasing the glider from the tug and continuing forward to reduce the chances of the glider colliding with the tug from behind, as described earlier. In this example of reduced RPM, getting airborne is probably not a good idea, even without the glider on tow.
If it is not possible for the tug to continue the take-off, this time for example, let’s say the engine has failed, then roll to a stop without hard braking and watch the mirror, moving to one side if it’s appropriate.
There comes a problem if the launch is aborted due to third party input, for example someone shouting “stop!” over the glider radio frequency. The problem here is that the observer may be able to see a problem but the pilots may not. It’s probably best to first release the glider, but would it be best for the tug to get airborne? Probably not if it has just picked up a winch launch cable or the tug is on fire!
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About the Book
This is an extract from the main text) This book on aerotowing gliders was written because there is little reference material published about the subject worlwide. So because of the lack of published information, I thought it important to gather the wealth of knowledge that is out there on the subject, collate it and present it to our community in the interests of safety ands efficiency
The book is intended as a comprehensive guide to glider towing operations, with that all important emphasis on safety. The intent is to provide all the relevant information in one straightforward, easy to read book. The notes are intended to be very generic and non-country specific. Even though local procedures differ, hopefully the information should be useful to any glider tug pilot, anywhere in the world. Each gliding organisation has its operating environment and problems, therefore should adapt, further or improve these suggestions to suit their own needs.
It is fundamental that every tug pilot be a person who is both trustworthy and highly reliable as it is a flying task with huge responsibility placed on the pilot. Aerotowing is expensive, can be noisy and has its own special hazards. These factors have a bearing on the very existence of gliding and it is therefore essential that glider aerotowing be carried out safely, efficiently and thoughtfully, paying particular regard to our neighbours. Your particular aerotowing should of course be carried out in accordance with national laws, regulations, procedures and in conjunction with your organisation’s flying rules.
As the pilots in command of an aircraft you are ultimately responsible for the safe conduct of the flight and the actions that you choose to take. The glider pilot’s requirements should of course be accommodated as far as possible.
Glider aerotowing should be good for your general flying skills. As a flying and gliding instructor for over twenty five years, I have noticed that most glider tug pilots are often also glider pilots and have above average handling and situational awareness skills. Flying tugs should of course also be quite good fun!
It is hoped that this comprehensive book will meet the ground school requirements of any current or future glider towing ratings.About the Author
(This is an extract from the main text)Having spent the major part of my gliding life at glider winch launch sites, compared with some I’m not actually that experienced a tug pilot; I have a few hundred hours (mainly) on Pawnees, Supermunks (Lycoming engined Chipmunks), Robins and a little in Super Cubs. However, I do have over twenty five years experience as a full category gliding instructor, motor glider instructor, light aircraft flying instructor, loads of free time (not!) and because of this – and the fact they couldn’t find anyone else - the British Gliding Association (BGA) in its wisdom asked me to be its senior glider tug pilot. I have acquired some 17,000 hours in powered aircraft, including over 3,000 in light aircraft and motorgliders, and over 1,000 in gliders. I pay the mortgage by being a Boeing 777 captain for British Airways. I also have a safety job for the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) and am an accredited accident investigator for the International Federation of Airline Pilots Association (IFALPA). A few years ago while I was a ‘relatively’ bored first officer flying Boeing 747s and at the ripe old age of 44 years I embarked on a distance learning MSc course in Air Safety Management. Thanks to six day trips sitting around some remote destinations with not much else to do, I managed to complete the MSc two years later. I’m very lucky, as gliding clubs in the UK are generally well run and have fine tugmasters who execute a sensible, pragmatic and safe approach to their operations. Over the past few years of doing the job, I’ve wrung the minds of many experienced tug pilots and simply tried to bring together best practices and disseminate them amongst our community.