Wire crew assisted launches – Can we make them safer?

[Ward Odenwald]

Given that many of us have adapted different launch techniques, we should consider standardizing how we communicate preferences to those that help us fly.

All to often, I’ve waited until the last minute before telling the wire crew how I launch and what I want them to do. If we move our gliders to launch before any discussion, it’s not the best environment for effective communication. For example, if you are standing in your control frame during windy conditions and talking to your left wingman, the right wingman may not hear important info and visa versa. Plus, if you are like me, in addition to the air swirling past you and your glider at launch, you’ve got a lot of different things swirling between your ears so the possibility of miscommunication or forgotten important info is a very real!

Here are some suggestions that came from conversations with Rich Bloomfield and Charley Fager who have helped many of us launch. Please consider these comments as ‘first draft’ thoughts. The more input we get from everyone, the safer our launches.

Wire crew/pilot interactions:

Once your glider is setup and pre-flight checked, but before hooking in or moving your wing to the launch area, identify your wire crew and assign positions (nose, left wing, etc.).

While in the set up area, go through your launch sequence with the crew making sure that everyone understands your technique and your preferred verbal communication concerning flying conditions, traffic and Wire Pressure! I believe that we’ve all been involved in wire launches where everyone helping had different ways of telling the pilot what’s happening (“I got up”; “Up”; “Pressure”….?). Confusing, to say the least, so make sure that your crew is speaking the same language. Also confirm that everyone helping knows when to remove their hands from the wires. Some of us prefer hands on until they yell clear while others want hands off while they are picking the glider up.

The discussion should be a back and forth interaction with all involved making sure that everyone ‘is on the same page’. In addition, the pilot should rehearse his launch commands during the discussion so that everyone understands the sequence and how quickly the commands can occur. Anything that you can do/say that helps your wingmen get you in the air with level wings will enhance safety.

At launch, before clearing the nose man during windy conditions, the pilot should adjust the glider pitch to their preferred takeoff angle of attack and then have the nose man briefly let go of the nose wire to confirm that the pilot can control the glider’s pitch. This is Charley’s technique for insuring that bad things don’t happen just after he clears the nose and it’s a safety check that we should all use.

Please post your thoughts and suggested enhancements.

[markc]

When I'm crewing on the nose, I always look at the pilot and ask/tell 'You have pitch', after s/he has cleared me from the nose wires.

I *look* at the pilot, to make sure that this has been understood.

*Then*, I release the wires (often then moving to the rear wires).

Winds/helmets/pilot differences can interfere with communication. So I try to keep the chatter down and the feedback loud.

Sometimes I have to remind a pilot that s/he cannot be heard.

Just a few initial thoughts... There are a million more. The forum can be good for some of these discussion; sometimes a face-to-face during a safety-oriented meeting can be better.

I've had my share of close calls when it comes to crewing, both as pilot and as crew. Things can happen that you would never expect....

[markc]

"Standardizing" ? My initial reaction is good-luck-with-that!


Dont mean to be a downer...Maybe in an ideal world...

But honestly, I'd settle for the occasional discussion opportunity, when pilots can run through scenarios that they have seen or experienced personally.

We used to have a safety-focused pre-spring club meeting where stuff like this could be brought up. Communicating with the next-gen pilots, and alla that!

[bustedwing2]

Going thru the pilots preferred launch communications/sequencing in the setup area immediately prior to the pilot moving up to launch allows for a variety of pilot preferences,no standardization required,and gets all involved with the launch on the same page and focused on the here and now. Mark might prefer different input than Wald, my old tired memory banks would welcome the individual pilot giving us a refresher as to their method since we don't all fly the pulpit frequently anymore and there are small differences that can be forgotten over time. Purpose is to keep all the launches safe and error (miscommunication) free.

[markc]

in the setup area immediately prior to the pilot moving up to launch

Yup, absolutely, that sort of thing is key.

Sometimes the pilot will take charge during that time and communicate.... And sometimes the pilot won't.

And sometimes the communication will be really good just before getting onto (say) a ramp.... And then go downhill once up there.

And sometimes the wirecrew will suddenly find their hands full when conditions go to hell.... Which sometimes they handle well, and sometimes they don't.

I'm not against the idea of a standard approach, but pilot skills are hugely variable, and wirecrew skills are hugely variable. Heck, even one flying weekend to the next, you'll find that someone is on top of their game, but then not so much the next time out.

Totally think it's great to discuss this sort of thing. To the extent that forum/text can help, that's great. But also good to consider in-person options.