Cross-Country Manual -
For Glider Pilots
Author: Dean Carswell
From Bob Wander's "Gliding Mentor" series
Paperback, many illustrations and black and white photos, 80 pages,
Copyright 2003
Dimensions: 8.31 x 11.0 inches
(211 x 280 mm)
Table of Contents
About the Author
Complete with training methods and
completion standards, this is an essential book for all pilots who
aspire to fly cross country safely, efficiently, and without fear.
Author's Notes by Dean Carswell
This book is a guide for pilots in preparation for starting out to fly
cross country. It summarizes the knowledge and skills needed to fly
cross country successfully. It assumes that you already have (and
retain) the knowledge and skills required to pass the knowledge and
practical tests for the FAA private pilot glider rating, and that you
have the skill and experience outlined in the "Skill/Experience
Prerequisites" section.
The contents of this book are in the form of ground and flight
instruction. Many successful cross country pilots have been self-taught.
This is analogous to jumping in at the deep end of the swimming pool and
teaching yourself to swim straight after having read Swimming for
Dummies. A better way, both safer and quicker, is to learn with the help
of a qualified instructor. This means you need to obtain the help of a
qualified instructor to provide and supervise your practical training.
Many glider pilots who have not flown cross country, even those who have
demonstrated good local soaring skills, perceive barriers to safe and
successful cross country flight. Some barriers are physical: Lack of the
various skills needed to make a safe and successful cross country
flight. Some barriers are psychological: A general fear of not getting
to the planned goal, and being forced to endure the risks and danger of
an off-field landing, with no assurance of the safe outcome. These
psychological fears have likely been increased by personal experience,
e.g. when pressing further away from the home field, finding a couple of
good looking clouds in succession then discovering nothing but heavy
sink, engendering a lack of confidence in the ability to stay up. In
addition, turning away from the home airfield, breaking the umbilical
cord and getting beyond gliding distance from home, is the opposite of
what all previous flights have involved: Getting back safely to the home
airfield.
The ground and flight instruction in this book contributes to a
confidence-building process to address and break down these
psychological barriers. This includes landing at new airfields, and
soaring flights that remain within gliding distance of an airport.
Remember that the underlying logic of safe cross country flight is based
on the premise that the probability of finding another thermal down your
chosen route is just as high as finding one close to your home airfield.
If you have any comments or suggestions for improvement, please tell us
so that others may benefit from your experience.
Safe soaring!
Dean Carswell
Chief Master Instructor, Soaring Society of America |
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$16.95 |
In Stock |
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