Briefing: Wire Launch Failures and Recovery

Aim: You will recognise a launch failure and know how to recover from one.

Recover: immediately move the stick forward to achieve the appropriate recovery attitude. This is usually more nose down than the approach attitude – to allow a rapid acceleration to the approach speed.

• The amount of control movement may range from easing the back pressure to a positive movement forward.
• The extent of the recovery will depend on the height of the launch failure (and hence the attitude of the glider).
• Take great care if the launch failure is at a low level.

Wait: it can take several seconds to reach the approach speed, as determined in Eventualities

Assess: the situation while waiting for speed to build:

• Only when at the approach speed, in the approach attitude, can a reliable decision be made.

Plan: a Safe Approach & Landing

• Land ahead if it is safe to do so.

Monitor: the ASI

Fly: the Approach and Landing: String, Speed, Lookout

Video of a launch failure and recovery

• Do not open the airbrakes until the approach speed has been achieved, at the earliest.
• Caution when opening airbrakes close to the ground:
  • Depending on the glider, beware of pitch changes.
  • Consider initially opening them only to get past the over-centre lock (to avoid any pitch changes) – then ease them open to overcome ground effect and to stabilise the glider.

How do you recognise a failure?

What actions do you take if the launch fails?