There are two major aspects to off-field landings, field selection, and executing the circuit and landing. Good field selection skills are gained best by actual experiences under varying conditions. Descriptive material on the subject is only good up to a point. The execution of the circuit and landing, given a field of suitable length and width, can benefit from practise under controlled conditions. Landing at unfamiliar airports, on little used runways at the normal operation, can all be beneficial in learning how to execute the outlanding. The key is to present a different visual approach, so that other cues to the entry point and execution will have to be used. If operations only have a single active runway, even choosing a different circuit can be useful. The key skills to develop require the use of the angle method to select the entry point and perform the rest of the circuit. The outline for this exercise is:
- Tell the line chief of your intentions and have the student plan a landing on an alternate runway. This exercise can usually be followed by a takeoff without a wing runner.
- Instructor checks student’s circuit planning on the unfamiliar runway.
- Instructor coaches student’s performance of circuit and landing.
- Instructor ensures that the glider is moved to an appropriate takeoff position on the alternate runway which leaves plenty room ahead and a place for the tow plane to safely land (remember it may be trailing a rope).
- Instructor briefs tow pilot if a no-wing runner takeoff will be done, and reminds both tow pilot and student of the proper procedure.
If you are going to do an unattended launch after this, first remember to brief the tow pilot each time on the procedure. The proper technique is to indicate that while the canopy of the glider is open any movements of the spoilers or controls will only be related to pre-takeoff checks. The tow pilot will then get a clear visual cue when to proceed with the actual launch. Usually the wing on the ground is on the side of the prevailing crosswind. The student gets strapped in, the instructor does the hook-up, and then gets in. The canopy is left open as the instructor gets strapped in and then student completes the pretakeoff checks. When these are done the canopy is closed and secured, the spoilers are closed and locked, and the launch is initiated by the fanning of the rudder.