Launch Safety: Roy Bourgeois , Chief Pilot 26 aug 20

Sometimes "launch safety and efficiency" can be mutually contradictory, especially with aircraft landing while we are launching. "Safety" dictates that we hold a launch while other aircraft are close to landing. "Efficiency" means that we get as many launches off in a limited time and not hold a launch because of a landing 2 minutes from now. Figuring out when you have enough time to make a safe launch takes experience and judgment and even 2 experienced pilot/wing runners can (and will) call a given situation differently.

Also contributing to the problem are variations in the size of airplane patterns and speeds, variations in tow pilots about how quickly they can take out slack and how immediately they begin to roll after being given the "go" signal. In the glider itself there are variations in glider pilot experience and confidence to launch. Then, adding to all of this are the variances in our "midweek" operations where nearly every launch can have a different wing runner. And in the summer it's a hot and tedious wait in the glider or in the tow plane waiting for somebody on a long slow final to land and everyone wants to get moving.

So, no surprise that we sometimes get it wrong. We had an incident this week where we got it wrong and a landing glider arrived with a departing tow combination leaving at about the same time. Nobody hurt and nothing got damaged, but we need to do a little better. And we can do better: if the 3 players in this situation (wing runner, tow pilot and arriving glider) all make a few adjustments. So a few suggestions for the 3 players:

Wing Runner
Don't signal to take up slack if there is a reasonable chance you will have to hold the launch. Everyone will be uncomfortable with windows & canopy closed and waiting. If the pilot or student/instructor seem to be fumbling a bit, don't take out slack until they are good to go. If there is a plane or glider that calls a position in the pattern, make sure that you can see it and make an initial judgment before proceeding. Watch your tow pilot during the previous launches and get a sense of how fast he takes out slack and is ready to roll after the "go" signal is given. If he is taking 10-15 seconds to start the launch after the "go" signal (and he shouldn't take that much), that has to be factored into your decision. If you are not sure if you have time to launch, hold and get a second opinion – fast. When in any doubt, hold the launch. A hand held radio is really helpful in these situations, but we are unreliable about that.

Tow Pilots

• Close the windows, set flaps & do your final checks before (or during) the up slack procedure and be ready to start immediately when the signal is given. When the flag waves "go" there should be nothing left to do but throttle up. Start the acceleration at the first signal to do so with no delay.
• Broadcast your intentions while starting the take off roll or while rolling. There is no need to pause to make a broadcast.

Approaching Pilots
At some point you may be in the glider that is on final when a launch is preparing to depart. It's important to remember that the paved runway is always an available option. If a situation is developing on the grass that you don't like, simply move over and land on the paved runway and try to clear that runway as quickly as possible.