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| − | == BGA FIELD LANDING BRIEFING == | + | =Field Landings= |
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| | + | [http://old.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/fieldlanding.htm '''BGA Guide to Field Landing (includes video and Guidance After Landing)'''] |
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| | + | =Thermalling Cross Country= |
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| − | 1. By 2000 FT. If landing appears probable, fly to a suitable area, preferably flat and
| + | [https://youtu.be/UzUo89eAPsU '''Thermal Soaring Presentation'''] |
| − | 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
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| − | 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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