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| | =Field Landings= | | =Field Landings= |
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| − | ==BGA field landing briefing==
| + | [http://old.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/fieldlanding.htm '''BGA Guide to Field Landing (includes video and Guidance After Landing)'''] |
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| − | 1. By 2000 FT. If landing appears probable, fly to a suitable area, preferably flat and
| + | =Thermalling Cross Country= |
| − | unobstructed. Remember you will cover far more ground if you fly down wind.
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| − | 2. By 1500 FT. Pick an area with 2 or 3 potentially suitable fields: consider the surrounding
| + | [https://youtu.be/UzUo89eAPsU '''Thermal Soaring Presentation'''] |
| − | terrain.
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| − | a. Are there hills to create turbulence or surface wind problems?
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| − | b. Are there TV cables, TV masts or other large obstacles?
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| − | c. Does the ground slope visibly? If so is it to steep?
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| − | d. Stay orientated with wind direction experienced during the cross-country – relate to
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| − | sun position.
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| − | 3. By 1000 FT. Select your field considering the following:
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| − | a. Surface Wind – assess the wind by means of your drift or by smoke. Always aim to
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| − | land in a direction, which will give you a substantial headwind component.
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| − | b. Field Length – remember the apparent size of any field is seen relative to the size of
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| − | those surrounding it. Know the topography of the country over which you are flying. A
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| − | good field for a modern glider would be 500 – 600 yards long with relatively
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| − | unobstructed boundaries.
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| − | c. Obstructions – obstructions reduce the useable field length by at least 10 times the
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| − | height at which you clear them. Trees and buildings will also create turbulence.
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| − | d. Slope – any visible down slope in the field is unacceptable. A similar upslope would be
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| − | acceptable (the wheel brake will be needed). Examine surrounding fields for slope
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| − | indications. Fields at the bottom of a valley often suffer from excessive slope.
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| − | e. Surface – look for fields in the following order of priority:
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| − | (1) Stubble
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| − | (2) Grass – but beware of strip grazing indicating electric fences – any shading in
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| − | the grass surface almost certainly indicates the presence of fencing.
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| − | (3) Short Crop – the surface should appear more brown than green.
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| − | (4) Other cropped fields may present a hazard on landing – remember half-ripe
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| − | crops may look like stubble – consider the season!
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| − | f. Stock – Sheep panic, run and sometimes jump up. Cows are curios, horses bolt. A
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| − | solitary cow is probably a bull! Try to avoid fields with stock in them.
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| − | 4. By 800 ft AGL – Position the glider well upwind and well to one side of your field – visualise
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| − | the length of the downwind leg at your home airfield. Use pre-selected ground reference
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| − | points to maintain orientation and positioning. Be conscious of the tendency to cramp your
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| − | circuit and plan to avoid doing so.
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| − | 5. Base Leg Position – Plan to be abeam your touchdown by 400 to 500 ft. resist the common
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| − | tendency to position the base leg to close – plan for a half airbrake approach. Select a safe
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| − | approach speed. Excessive speed will usually result in overshooting the field. Allow an
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| − | adequate margin of height over obstructions. Once you are certain you can safely clear them
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| − | use full airbrake to achieve an early touch down. Aim for minimum touch down speed on
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| − | rough surfaces. Ground looping is common when landing in crop. Concentrate on keeping
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| − | the wings level and retract flaps if necessary.
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| − | In addition to the mandatory Bronze badge field landing requirement, the BGA recommends periodic
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| − | field landing refresher training in an SLMG.
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| − | BGA June 2010
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| − | ==Guidance for Pilots Following a Field Landing==
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| − | Glider pilots almost always set off on a flight that will result in a landing back at the base airfield.
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| − | Occasionally a flight does not quite go to plan and can result in a field landing. So glider pilots need
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| − | the co-operation of farmers and landowners. Their assistance and goodwill is imperative for the
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| − | future of our sport. What follows is set of guidelines, based on a document produced by Lasham, to
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| − | assist glider pilots in their interaction with farmers and landowners after a field landing. Field selection
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| − | and how to land in a field are separate topics not covered by this document.
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| − | '''Trespass'''
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| − | By landing in a field without first gaining the landowners permission, a pilot is committing an
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| − | actionable civil wrong. In the eyes of the law the pilot is trespassing. With this in mind, it is clearly
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| − | appropriate to be humble, polite and apologetic having landed uninvited on someone’s land. Think
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| − | about how you would feel if someone appeared uninvited in your back garden.
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| − | '''Meeting the Farmer'''
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| − | Of course you must find the farmer or a representative of the farmer – its time well spent while
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| − | waiting for your crew. First impressions count and your being there is going to cost the farmer time if
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| − | nothing else. Farmers are very busy people. Bear this in mind when introducing your self. Stress that
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| − | your landing in his field was not planned. Explain what you were trying to do. Let the farmer know
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| − | that you will try to ensure you will be as little trouble to him as possible and that with his permission
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| − | you can remove your aircraft with the minimum of fuss and trouble.
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| − | '''Retrieve'''
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| − | Almost always when landing in a field, a road retrieve is the only or best option. Aerotow retrieves
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| − | should be approached with great caution. If an aerotow retrieve is appropriate, ask the farmers
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| − | permission and explain what will happen. Understandably, most farmers will have no prior experience
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| − | of an aircraft taking off from their land, let alone two aircraft joined by a rope. So take time to explain
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| − | it clearly.
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| − | '''Damage to the Field or other Property'''
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| − | If damage has been caused to crop etc, your glider third party insurance will cover any related costs.
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| − | Do not offer to pay compensation there and then and do not admit any liability. The landowner or
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| − | farmer may quickly estimate the value of any damage and demand that you pay up. Accurately
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| − | valuing crop or other damage is a job for a professional assessor and your insurance company will
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| − | make the arrangements. Exchange addresses and insurance company names with the landowner,
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| − | and contact your insurance company as soon as possible. The insurer will assess the damage and if
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| − | appropriate, will reimburse the farmer. If possible, take photo's of any damage as this may help in the
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| − | event of a dispute.
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| − | '''Landing Fee…'''
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| − | Farmers have been known to request a landing fee for both balloons and gliders. Balloons are mostly
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| − | commercial ventures and may have up to 20 people on board all paying their way. The farmer quite
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| − | understandably expects a slice of the action. Gliders are different – we aim to get back to our base
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| − | airfield and are not commercially operated. If the farmer wants a landing fee from you;
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| − | - Do not dismiss him out-of-hand
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| − | - Ask why he thinks it is necessary
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| − | '''BGA Guidance Post Field Landing'''
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| − | If you have not damaged anything, and do not require his services to drag the glider out or to prevent
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| − | sightseers wandering onto his property, no landing fee should be paid. Several years ago the BGA
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| − | and the National Farmers Union agreed a code of conduct for glider pilots landing in fields (the code
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| − | is described in BGA Laws and Rules). At that time a maximum landing fee for gliders of £3.50 was
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| − | agreed. As peoples expectations and farming overheads move on over time, consider offering an
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| − | absolute maximum of £20 as a goodwill gesture for the farmers trouble and hospitality. It’s worth
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| − | noting that the balloonists (mainly commercial, remember) recommend a maximum of £80 paid when
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| − | a large passenger carrying balloon lands in a farmers field.
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| − | If your farmer doesn’t accept your offer and demands more, refuse politely and refer him to his local
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| − | NFU representative. You will not know who that is, but he most certainly will.
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| − | And in the unlikely event of the situation getting difficult…
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| − | Legally, you cannot be prevented from leaving a property or from taking your glider with you. You
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| − | may be expelled by force, but no more than is reasonably necessary and not before you are asked to
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| − | leave. Your aircraft may not be confiscated or impounded – that is a form of theft. If you have been
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| − | prevented from reasonably retrieving your aircraft, the person preventing you has effectively taken
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| − | charge of the safe keeping of that glider. Politely explain this to that person and point out to him or
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| − | her the value of the equipment that he or she has just impounded.
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| − | If anyone threatens you or if you feel threatened, call the police. They will not wish to get involved in
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| − | a case of trespass as this is a civil offence. But in cases where you have been personally threatened,
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| − | a criminal offence may have taken place and the police will get involved.
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| − | '''Finally''' | |
| − | Regardless of your reception, be polite and stay calm. Always leave the farm knowing that you could
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| − | land back there again tomorrow. Always consider following up your experience with a thank you.
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| − | BGA June 2010
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