Yesterday's Pulpit Conditions and Notice to P2s

[Dan T]

P2s:

It is a common courtesy in the group to contact your observer the evening before the flying day or earlier. My preference is that you contact me before the anticipated flying day and then again the morning of the flying day after the weather reports have been updated. Once you have done that I will be glad to launch you first, assuming that you are at the site on time and the conditions are suitable, or launch you later in the day if we've made that arrangement. If you expect to launch first I expect you to get there not later than I do and be ready when I arrive. By ready I mean you've had a chance to look conditions over and comment on them and get your equipment as ready as is appropriate to the location and circumstances. By "ready" I don't mean hooked in, but it would help if you confirm that your gear is in order to the extent practicable.

If you do not get in touch with me prior to the flight day I will probably be willing to observe you anyway provided that, I am already aware of your skill level or, I have had a chance to speak with another observer who is aware of your skill level. However, in this case, I may not be willing to preempt my own flight plans to accommodate yours. It will most likely be a late day flight for you. This time of the year later in the day can be more fun and much safer for low airtime pilots anyway.

Regarding yesterday's suitability for P2 flight:

1) While driving to the LZ to give two P2s a walk through, both Mark Cavinaugh and I witnessed the biggest dust devil we had ever seen in the eastern USA. The dust devil was peeling off near the flats at the entrance to the town of McConnellsburg.
2) Several pilots had difficulty getting their wings overhead and centered on launch. This happened significantly more than usual.
3) One pilot nearly clipped the right hand launch ramp while trying to recover from the cross wind.
4) There were at least three landings in the bail out field on the right.*
5) I witnessed and personally experienced several small tip collapses and other indications of strong turbulence.

In hind sight I believe that the conditions were unsuitable for most low airtime pilots. I will adjust my own P2 conditions barometer accordingly.

* The CHGPA's informal understanding with the land owner of the right hand emergency LZ is that we use it only when absolutely necessary. Three separate landings there within a couple hours of each other either demonstrate that conditions were either unsuitable for most pilots or we are getting too casual about our landing options. I know that the land owner has been very accommodating of pilots who have had to land there in the past, however absent some express change in the arrangement to use the field only when necessary, let's not risk wearing out our welcome.