Albert Lea Airport Contest Operations Briefing

1
Albert Lea Airport Contest Operations Briefing

• Welcome and General Remarks
• Launch
• Procedures
• Re-light
• Landing

2
Welcome and Comments

3
Operations Briefing

• Operational Topics
• Gridding and parking
• Parking cars go/no-go for launch
• Airport operations
• Notam period
• Launch Procedures and signals
• Re-light Landings
• After Task Landings

4
Gridding and Parking

• All 4 runways marked numerically
• Spaced for 20 meter ships
• Cars must be moved behind glider closest to end
  of runway PRIOR TO START.
• No opportunity for gliders to contact the cars at
  launch

5
Airport Operations

• Airport NOTAM for launch period
• ?
• ?

6
Launch Procedures

• Launch Team Orange Vests
• Tow Plane Signalman (1)
• Rope Runners (2)
• Wing Runner (1)
• Connect (1)
• Cross Runway Traffic Observer (1)

7
Launch Procedures

• Procedures and Signals
• Assumption - if next canopy closed you are
  ready
• Canopy closed when plane in front of you launches
• Only Signals to Pilot
• 3 Opportunities to Opt Out
• 1. Leave canopy open
• 2. Refuse to connect
• 3. Release tow rope
• 1 Minute Remedy or Push Off

8
Launch Procedures continued

• Wing Runner Signals to tow plane
• No additional response from glider pilot will be
  looked for or expected
• All will be a go unless signal 6
• When begin takeoff is given
• Signalman will signal launch
• unless cross runway traffic
• conflict

9
Launch Procedures continued

• Special Launch Requirements
• Crew or pilot communicate to launch team
• Water ballast requires no wing down
• Acceleration of tow plane (Ka6)
• Others ?

10
Re-light Landings

• Always at cross runway unless wind dictates
  otherwise
• Specifically briefed at the daily pilot meeting
• Cross traffic monitor will be listening via radio
  on contest frequency

11
Landings at the end of the task

• Assume runway you launched from
• Changes while on task will be announced on the
  contest frequency
• Your crew is responsible for getting you towed
  off
• Grass and alternate areas will be briefed at the
  daily pilot briefing