HGFA Skysailor Magazine

8 SKY SAILOR September | October 2018 A erotow is a challenging technique in hang gliding. It provides the opportunity for launching multiple gliders, within minutes of each other. On launch, the heart of an aerotow operation, is the Duty Pilot who serves as a link between the tug pilot and the glider pilots. Peter Roberts, Albany based SSO, has been Duty Pilot for the ‘Intensive’ series, he explains the coaching schedule and his role in it: At any busy site, a Duty Pilot gets involved with pilots with a wide range of skills, but in the case of aerotow operations they need to be personally experienced in aerotow. We need to observe the pilot about to launch and see as much of the set-up as possible. An experienced aerotow Duty Pilot will see things which might easily escape the notice of the pilot who is about to launch. In early launches pilots are under some personal pressure. Because we operate from a farm, sharing living quarters with dining facilities, we are able to observe low-hour pilots quite closely. We get a glimpse of their diet, sleep, social habits and general level of confidence. Of interest too is the risk of dehydration, and in this I’m not just thinking about the newbies. A long day and a shortage of water can spell disaster with pilots at any level. One aspect of aerotow is that the launch is very fast. In coastal flying, acceleration is something you choose to do, or choose not to do, but in aerotow, there is no option. You are committed. The wing gets super responsive to small weight shifts. The demands for speed and input responses have to be managed for several minutes. During set-up the pilot has to look sharp and think sharp. We need to be critical about errors in set up, and/or lapses in concentration. I also have to ensure that all of the systems are in place as we go through the checks. These might include: ➲ where the basebar is sitting on the dolly – it has to be central and both wheels tracking straight; ➲ the tow bridle must be checked free and clear; ➲ the weak link must be the right G rating; ➲ the pilot must be familiar with the release mechanism. ➲ The keel angle of attack in the dolly, has to be right for the particular glider. Nothing worse than being stuck on the dolly when that angle is too low. ➲ But critically, I’m looking at the launching pilot’s mindset. Is s/he really ready for this? In the paddock every one of the pilots is a ‘buddy’, but as Duty Pilot you may sometimes have to be a critic. How does that play out in practice? Sometimes, after a few flights, a pilot gets into a sort of overconfidence mind-set. We also call this ‘intermediate syndrome’, where people start to overlook details, vital details which have to be double checked before they start the launch. Duty The Albany Hang Gliding Group in Western Australia has hosted a series of Aerotow Intensives. The fourth of these will be at Pootenup in late September. This is timed to precede the cross-country flying season and serves as preparation for the State Championships to be held at Westonia in February 2019. Interview by Birdman Pete Hardy-Atkins Aerotow A Duty Pilot’s Perspective Simon and Peter swap roles for a ‘Chiller Thriller’ Photos: Courtesy Pete Hardy-Atkins Peter Roberts Gordon’s well-wishers assembly ‘Steel thermal’ under starter’s orders