At 07:18 PM 2/08/04 +0930, you wrote:
>Mike Cleaver wrote:
>
>> Before you say thing like that can I suggest, as one who writes these
>> laws, that you have a good look at what gliders are actually allowed
>> to do in the context of CAO 95.4 - viz
>> - ridge soaring (not over a built-up area) without being
>> constrained by the 500 ft rule that applies to aeroplanes
>> - finishes in approved competitions within a radius of
>> the finish line, PROVIDED not less than 50 ft clear of obstacles,
>
>The funny thing about these rules is that it lets you do a thing in a
>specific circumstance. Someone new to competitions turns up at an
>APPROVED competition and they are allowed to do 'low' finishes, in with
>other traffic doing the same, perhaps, as well as tired, hot, possibly
>even slightly dehydrated. So turn up to a comp to do a low finish for
>the first time. That's legal BUT it seems to be technically illegal to
>practice low finishes at your home field because the rules don't
>accommodate that. This helps safety? Or am I off with the fairies?
That occurred to me too.
Back in the 1970's in WA it was pretty standard to do a competition finish
off a cross country. Everyone did it and we all got to be comfortable with
this and of course did it in the State Championships.
Only one person ever got into any bother and that was in practice - he
finished, pulled up stalled, spun in demolishing the glider completely. He
was the CFI and it happened at his own club.
I left WA in 1978 and after not having a chance to practice contest
finishes except in contests felt much less comfortable doing them and
indeed operating at low altitude generally.
Mike
Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments
phone Int'l + 61 746 355784
fax Int'l + 61 746 358796
cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784
Int'l + 61 429 355784
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
website: www.borgeltinstruments.com
_______________________________________________
Aus-soaring mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
