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High / Low Tow

The high tow / low tow position exercise is taught to develop the student’s confidence in manoeuvring the aircraft during the aerotow. Once the students gain some confidence with the aerotow, it’s time to add more challenges. At the intermediate level this should mean only going from the high tow down through the turbulent wake to the low tow position and back. Changing the tow position shows the limits to the towing position and the consequences. As well either towing position may be used later by the pilot, depending upon the circumstances, and the requirements of different flight operations. This should be the first confidence building exercise, showing that the student controls the aerotow, and not the other way around. The outline for this exercise is:

  1. Done once the student has some confidence with the normal tow position.
  2. Tow plane signalled that this exercise will be done.
  3. Once the tow plane levels out above 1000 feet on an upwind course the exercise can begin.
  4. Instructor coaches student from the high tow to the low tow position as determined by passing just below the turbulent wake.