Senior Field Officer Responsibilities

The following information is from the GBSC manual. Refer to your GBSC manual for complete information.
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Definitions and Duties

The Field Officer, Senior Field Officer and Grid Officer coordinate all field operation activities described in section 4, Ground Operations:

• Preflight operations
• Flight-line operations
• Post flight operations

The field officers are responsible for logging all flights, controlling the launch sequence, and keeping the flight line running safely and efficiently. To ensure efficient and safe operations, a field officer and a senior field officer are assigned for each scheduled flying day.

Pre-flight Operations consists of the activity necessary to have at least one of the L-23/2-33 gliders ready for flight by 10:00 a.m. on a scheduled flying day.

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Field Officer

The field officers are responsible for accomplishing the following:

• Arrive at the field prior to 9:00 a.m.
  
• Open the clubhouse and trailer (combination same for both locks)
• Set up the brown worktable by the picnic bench
• Locate the SFO clipboard, tow slips, pens, club brochures and walkie-talkies (these should be in the clubhouse).
• Set up the launch order list (or board).
• Set up the GBSC sign on the grass near the road (Only if using runway 34). The sign is behind the trailer.
• Get 2 tow ropes out for the day. Inspect them for knots, weak spots, length, proper ring connections etc. Repair or replace inadequate tow ropes. Set them up next to the launch grid (tow ropes are in the clubhouse).
• Get the radios and batteries from the FBO (these are located in the first office on the right on the bottom shelf of the bookcase). (The radios may be in the clubhouse).
• Get the golf cart and the GEMs from the FBO hangar. (The key for the golf cart is in the clubhouse.)  Instructions for operating the golf cart are on a placard. Instructions for operating the GEMs are ...
• Preflight one L-23/2-33 and install the radio. Draft "volunteers" if need be.
• Tow the L-23/2-33 to the secondary staging area.

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Senior Field Officer

In addition to those items above, the SFO is responsible for the following:

• Talk with the FBO and get current weather information
• Determine active runway (with FBO)
• Fill out new flight log (date, SFO name and Instructor and tow pilot names, when they check in)

The first member of the flying day to use a specifc glider will be responsible to perform the pre-flight inspection of these gliders.

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Flight Line Operations
Flight line operations consists of the ground activities necessary to launch gliders and have them safely return. This includes the following:

• Moving gliders to the staging area
• Control of the sign-up list and launch order list
• Moving gliders to the launch grid
• Control of the grid
• Hook-up and wing running
• Tow rope retrieval (after it is dropped by the tow plane)
• Retrieving gliders that have just landed

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Grid Officer

When the GBSC SFO is the grid officer, another GBSC club member may be enlisted to keep track of take off and landing times in the flight log.

• The grid officer has final authority on the launch order for both clubs. He controls the launch grid. The GO must be on top of all glider movement and know who will need to be put in the grid next. He must be in constant contact with the GBSC SFO and waiting pilots.
• The GO controls the primary staging areas. These are primarily for club ships. Private owners should contact the GO when they are ready to go and he should have them brought up directly to the grid in groups of three. They are not to be staged in the primary staging area unless there is sufficient room for them.

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Senior Field Officer

The Senior Field Officer will usually be preoccupied with launch order, sequencing, flight slips and the flight log. The SFO's main duties include:

• Establishing the launch priority using the sign-up list and flight slips.
• Prioritizing training flights to keep instructors fully utilized.
• Keeping the flight log data current.

Ask for experienced members to assist in hookups, running wings, moving and retrieving GBSC gliders. This is a club operation so everyone should be willing to lend a hand.

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Flight Log

The Senior Field Officer will keep a legible, accurate and complete flight log of the day's flights. The flight log is crucial for keeping an accurate record of GBSC flights, both for cross referencing flight slips and for logging aircraft hours. Log the pilot's complete name, passenger, instructor, 'N' number of the glider, tow pilot, towplane, and glider takeoff and landing times. Sign and date the flight log at the end of the day.

Field Officer

The Field Officer will work primarily on the grid with hookups, wing running, tow rope retrieval, moving gliders forward in the grid and helping to move gliders from the staging area to the grid.

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Post-Flight Operations
The Field Officers and Senior Field Officers are required to accomplish the following at the end of the flying day:

• Make sure the tow planes and all the gliders are securely tied down. Lock all control surfaces in place with aileron/rudder locks and by immobilizing the stick with bungee cords or harness straps. Severe damage can result to unsecured control surfaces in high winds.
• Remove all the batteries from the gliders and place them in the charging rack in the FBO
  (FBO usually closes at 5:30 p.m.).
• Make sure all the glider canopies are secured and covered, if a cover exists.
• Re-coil the tow lines, re-inspect them as you go. Hang them on the pegs in the clubhouse.
• Put the golf cart and GEMs away (in the hangar for now). Lock the golf cart/GEMs and put the key in the clubhouse.
• Check the flight log and make sure that every flight is logged. Place the log sheet in a zipper bag and place them in the Treasurer's mail box inside the clubhouse.
• Stow the unused credit slips, pens, log sheets, etc., in the clubhouse.
• Clean up around the clubhouse, store the brown worktable in the clubhouse, remove trash, stow lawn chairs, turn off the clubhouse radio.
• Close and lock the clubhouse.