General Flight and Safety Rules

Sandhill members should refer to the complete list of guidelines found in the SSC Handbook on the Membership Forms page. The Flight Director, OD, or club instructors may also be consulted with any questions.

Currency Requirements

All Members:

1. Club spring written test completed;
2. Annual checkout with a Club Instructor before solo;
3. Clubs currency notebook and members logbook endorsed by a Club Instructor for each glider to be flown;
4. Must not have any overdue club bills.

Private and Commercial Pilots:

1. Flight Review (BFR) within the past 24 months (FAR);
2. Three takeoffs and landings within the past 90 days, in class and category, to be current to carry passengers (FAR);
3. Flight check with a Club Instructor required, if no glider time has been logged within the previous 60 days (club rule).

Solo Students and Transition Pilots:

1. Must take a flight check with a Club Instructor and obtain a logbook endorsement every ten (10) flights or thirty (30) days, whichever comes first (club rule);
2. A Club Instructor must be present and approve each solo flight before takeoff (insurance requirement).

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Annual Checkout

Every year, before flying as pilot-in-command in the spring, each club member must:

1. Read and know the current club Flight Rules and Operating Procedures;
2. Pass the clubs current spring written test on safety and club operating procedures;
3. Take two check flights with a Club Instructor;
4. Receive a currency notebook endorsement from a Club Instructor for each club glider to be flown.
5. If Lark-qualified, take the annual check flights with a Lark Instructor, in the Lark.
6. Take separate check flights with a Club Instructor for each launch method: aerotow; ground launch; and self-launch;
7. Receive an entry in the currency notebook for each launch method and aircraft.

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Flying Safety

1. Before and during each launch, prepare for emergencies, including rope/cable breaks and aborted take-offs;
2. Use takeoff and landing checklists;
3. Set altimeter to field elevation, 921 feet;
4. Towing operations must temporarily cease whenever the crosswind component exceeds 15 knots;
5. Keep within gliding range of the field, or be prepared to land safely somewhere else;
6. Stalls, spins, and wingovers must be preceded by instruction in entry and recovery and must comply with all FARs, including completion above 1500 feet AGL;
7. Aerobatics other than stalls, spins, and wingovers are not permitted in club aircraft, except in the Lark when flying with a Club Instructor who has been designated by the Board of Directors as an aerobatic instructor;
8. Pilots shall at all times allow for wind, sink, pattern altitude, and wind gradients;
9. Precise pattern flying is required;
10. Normal pattern altitude at Richmond Field is 800 to 1000 feet AGL;
11. Thermalling in the pattern is prohibited;
12. When landing to the south, touchdowns must be beyond the displaced threshold;
13. When landing to the north on the glider runway, gliders must be stopped before reaching the limit marker, which consists of the red cone east of the windsock;
14. When landing, rolling up to the hangar or flight line is prohibited;
15. Gliders shall be taxied or pulled off the runway after landing;
16. When a pilot has an incident of questionable flying skill or judgment, that pilot is expected to seek the counsel of a Club Instructor to determine if flight training or ground training is necessary prior to any subsequent solo or PIC flights;
17. It is the responsibility of all club members who witness incidents of questionable flying skill or judgment, to be sure that the pilot is aware of the concern of the membership;
18. It is the responsibility of the Officer of the Day, Flight Director, or any Club Instructor to ground a pilot considered to be unsafe, pending a review by the Board of Directors. Grounding means revoking of flying status, and prohibiting solo flights or flights as PIC;
19. Every pilot and club member is responsible for operating safely!

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Field Duty

1. Each regular club member shall be scheduled to work at the field approximately once every other month, as a member of a work crew;
2. Crew members who miss their scheduled day, shall contact the Flight Director so that they may be re-scheduled for another day;
3. Crew members who do not show up for their duty day, will be listed in the Thermal and encouraged to be available for other crew members who cannot make their duty day;
4. All crew members are encouraged to fly on their scheduled work day, by enlisting substitutes to fill in for them on a temporary basis during the day;
5. Each crew shall include an Officer of the Day (OD), who must be knowledgeable on all club operations and procedures; a wing runner; a tow vehicle driver; an Instructor; a Tow pilot; on winch days, a Winch Driver; and on weekend afternoons, on dates and times as determined by the Flight Director, a Commercial Pilot;
6. All crew members, including, Instructors, morning Tow pilots, Winch Drivers, wing runners, and tow vehicle drivers shall arrive at the field by 8:00 am on their scheduled days, regardless of the weather.

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Ground Handling Of Gliders

1. Tow vehicles shall be driven slowly and driver shall watch for people, planes, and air traffic;
2. Good communication between the tow vehicle driver and wing walker shall be maintained to ensure safe ground towing;
3. Tow vehicle drivers shall pay attention to the wing walker for visual or spoken signals;
4. Ground tow ropes shall be at least one wing span long plus 5 feet;
5. The control stick shall be secured by the lap belts while ground towing;
6. Gliders that are being towed within 200 feet of an active runway shall stop, put the runway wing down, and remain clear of the runway, when another plane is taking off or landing;
7. When retrieving gliders from the landing area, the landing area shall be kept clear by towing first to the edge of the landing area and then to the flight line along the edges of the landing area;
8. Two wing-walkers shall be used for ground towing in windy conditions;
9. The tail shall be lifted, when gliders are rotated;
10. Gliders shall be parked well off the runway, or well behind the takeoff line, with their canopies closed;
11. When the winds are greater than 10 knots, the gliders should be parked with one wing pointed into the wind, the upwind wing weighed down with a tire, the control stick secured with belts and the dive brakes open;
12. Gliders shall be parked east of the runway, when launching from the south end;
13. Only one glider shall be staged at a time, at the takeoff line at the south end of the runway;
14. Gliders and tow planes shall be moved slowly in and out of the hangar, using three members at all times;
15. Only proper surfaces shall be pushed or pulled.

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Flight Takeoff Priorities

From highest to lowest:

1. FAA practical tests for ratings or certificates have first priority;
2. Annual spring check flights have priority during April only;
3. Badge flights and record attempts;
4. Simulated practical tests in preparation for authorization to take an FAA practical test;
5. Flight instruction, including currency training flights and FAR 61.56 flight reviews (BFRs), have priority from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays;
6. Non-member pilots from other soaring clubs, who have arrived by glider; and are receiving one free aerotow to 2000 feet AGL;
7. Introductory flights given to Day Members have the lowest priority;
8. Introductory flights shall be given by Commercial pilots only.

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Flight Limitations

1. Two-seat club gliders are limited to one (1) hour per flight on weekends and scheduled holidays;
2. Single-seat club gliders are limited to two (2) hours per flight on weekends and scheduled holidays;
3. The allowable flight time can be exceeded beyond the above limits, if no one else wants the glider, and approval is obtained from the Officer of the Day;
4. No limits are placed on duration during weekdays, however, members are encouraged to be considerate of their fellow members who may be waiting, and should carry radios whenever possible.

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Signing Up For A Flight

Flight Instruction

1. Call the Sandhill Soaring Club Info Exchange, 734-761-1132, in the week immediately preceding the desired weekend; state your name, the day you intend to fly, and the purpose of the flight or flights;
2. Arrive at Richmond Field at 8:00 am on the reserved day;
3. Place your name on the sign-in sheet;
4. Assist the crew in getting the aircraft and equipment out of the hangar and onto the flight line;
5. Assist the crew in conducting preflight inspections, laying out the towrope, etc.;
6. The first three (3) club members who do all of the above, have priority for flight instruction on that day, based on the order that they call in;
7. The Club Instructor will determine the number of consecutive instructional flights that each student may take on that day.

Flight Reviews

Private and Commercial Pilots requiring a flight review, in accordance with FAR 61.56, shall schedule a two-hour block of time with a Club Instructor, at a time or on a day that the Club Instructor is not scheduled for duty.

Non-instruction Flights

1. Place your name on the sign-up sheet upon arrival at Richmond Field;
2. Tow priority is determined by the order of the names on the list;
3. If a club member's name is at the top of the list, but the club member chooses not to fly at that time, the next person on the list may take the tow;
4. Club members do not lose their place, but continue to keep the top priority until they get their tow;
5. Club members who arrive at 8:00 am and assist the crew in all of their duties, will be given first priority, after the students;
6. Club members who sign up early in the morning and leave without helping the crew, will have their names crossed off the sign-up sheet by the OD;
7. Club members may leave the field once during the day, and not lose their priority, provided they return within 90 minutes;
8. Club members do not lose their priority while they are away from the field in an aircraft;
9. Sign-ups are for the same day only; advance sign-ups are now allowed;
10. Once a club member has taken a flight, his or her name will be crossed off the sign-up sheet;
11. Club members may sign-up for a second or subsequent flights by again placing their names on the sign-up sheet, after landing.

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Weekday Flying

1. Weekdays are not scheduled, however, the club will fly on any weekday afternoon during the soaring season, when sufficient club members are available;
2. Each Wednesday during soaring season, the club will try to have a Tow pilot and Club Instructor volunteer to be available so that, if the weather permits, we can fly;
3. Club members who can crew or are intending to fly should send out an email, or leave a message on the SSC Info Exchange for the upcoming week;
4. Every Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning, the SSC Info Exchange will contain a message stating whether the club will be flying;
5. A message should be left on the SSC Info Exchange to notify other members that there will be flight activity on any weekday that members are intending to fly;
6. On any weekday that the club is operating from the south end of the field, beyond the range of the airport telephone, a message will be left on the SSC Info Exchange, stating that we are flying;
7. Any club member who intends to fly the Motorglider during the week, should leave a message on the SSC Info Exchange so that other members know when the Motorglider will not be available;
8. Anyone who wants to fly on any weekday, can call the SSC Info Exchange to share the information or can send out an email;
9. Cross-country flights and extended soaring are encouraged on weekdays;
10. Gliders, barograph, and trailer may be reserved for weekday use by calling the SSC Info Exchange;
11. Each club member is responsible to ensure that each of his or her own flights is properly logged on the flight log sheet.

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General Flightline Procedures

1. Visitors, especially children and pets, shall be kept away from the flight line and the tow plane;
2. Pets shall be kept on a leash when they are in areas of flight operation;
3. All club members shall help enforce these rules;
4. Each glider shall have a positive control and release check prior to its first flight of the day;
5. Excessive force to the control surfaces shall not be used when performing positive control checks;
6. The Officer of the Day shall specify the next-to-go and second-to-go pilots and gliders for takeoff;
7. Both pilots and both gliders must be present and ready;
8. The pilot in the #1 position should be in the glider on the takeoff line, belted in and ready to go by the time the tow plane is on downwind;
9. The pilot in the #2 position should be readying for the move to the flight line and be completing the final preflight check, including positive control check and release check;
10. As soon as the #1 pilot takes off, the #2 pilot moves to the flight line, gets in the ship, and straps in, becoming the #1 pilot;
11. Once these positions are announced there should be no more changing or trading.

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Aerotow Procedures

Towropes, Rings and Adapters:

1. Tow ropes shall be 5/16″ diameter, 1200lb breaking strength;
2. Weak-link adapters shall be ¼″ diameter, red rope with a breaking strength of 900lb;
3. The ¼″ red weak-link shall be used for the lighter single-place gliders, including the club Pilatus and Scheibe, as well as most private gliders;
4. European-style Tost double rings are used for the Lark, ASK 13, K 7, Pilatus, Scheibe, and for many private ships;
5. The Schweizer 2-22, 2-33 & 1-26 use the larger single Schweizer ring, on a 5/16″ white adapter rope;
6. The pilot-in-command is responsible for confirming which adapter to use;
7. Knots shall be removed from the towrope before each flight.

Wing Runner

1. Prior to hookup, the wing runner should confirm that the pilot and passenger are strapped in and that the canopy is closed and locked;
2. The tow rope end and adapter, if used, should be inspected and shown to the pilot;
3. Hooking up should occur when the pilot signals that he is ready;
4. Signal the Tow pilot to remove slack from the towrope while standing outside the wingtip;
5. Scan the sky in all directions before announcing loudly “pattern clear” and asking “pilot ready?”;
6. Raise the wing, only after the pilot gives the thumbs-up signal;
7. Think safety and be on the lookout for any unsafe conditions.

Runways and Taxiing

1. Aerotows, airplanes, and Motorgliders should takeoff on the main north-south runway, when practicable, but may use other portions of the airfield, other than the main runway, when, in the discretion of the pilot-in-command, safety will be increased;
2. All powered aircraft should taxi along the east side of the main runway, when practicable, in order to avoid interference with glider landings on the West side;
3. When aerotowing from the south end, towplanes may land west of the main runway, on the glider landing area, in order to allow gliders to be staged for takeoff on the main runway;
4. If airplane traffic, other than the towplane is in the pattern, gliders should be moved away from the approach end of the Runway 36, so that the full length of the runway is available to the landing traffic.

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Winch Flightline Procedures

Weak Links & Lead Cable:

1. Safety lead cables have either a European or Schweizer style tow ring at the glider end and a Tost weak link at the parachute end;
2. The Tost weak link consists of a holder and fuse link;
3. The fuse links are color coded to indicate breaking strength:
   • White (500kg/1100lbs)
   • Blue (600kg/1320lbs) for most single place ships
   • Red (750kg/1650lbs) for most two place ships
   • Brown (850kg/1870lbs) for the Lark
4. The Schweizer 2-22 or other Schweizer aircraft require an adapter ring, which must be in new or nearly new condition;
5. Worn or frayed adapters are likely to break under the stress of winch launch.

Wing Runner:

1. Think Safety!
2. Prior to hookup, the wing runner should confirm that the pilot and passenger are strapped in and that the canopy is closed and locked;
3. The weak link and cable end must be inspected for damage;
4. Confirm with the pilot that the correct color weak link and cable end are being used;
5. Wait for the ready signal from the pilot before hooking up;
6. From the wing tip, scan the sky in all directions before announcing loudly “pattern clear”;
7. When all is ready, confirm with the pilot that dive brakes are closed and locked;
8. Lift the wing tip to level and announce “ready to take out slack.”

Launch Line Officer:

1. After the Wing Runner announces “ready to take out slack,” start the launch process by clearing for launch with the aerotow flight line using the prescribed radio procedure to ensure that winch launch will not interfere with aerotow operations;
2. Launch procedures and communications are prescribed in the SSC Winch Operations Manual, and may be updated from time to time;
3. For detailed winch procedures, see the Sandhill Soaring Club Winch Operations Manual.

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Non-Flying Details

1. Keep the field and hangar clean. Return pop bottles, ropes, tires, cones, etc., to their proper place;
2. Club ground handling vehicles should be used whenever possible for retrieving gliders, cables and field maintenance.
3. Member's and visitor's vehicles are to be kept off of the field unless they are directly involved in the club operations and under the control of the O.D.;
4. The use of privately owned vehicles are done at the owner's risk;
5. Motor vehicles shall be parked to the north of the club hangar only;
6. The Club assumes no responsibility for damage to member's vehicles or other personal property;
7. Long-distance personal phone calls at the club's expense should be avoided;
8. Be considerate of other club members and courteous to guests at the field;
9. When seeing an unfamiliar face, a club member should introduce himself or herself;
10. Work crews can always use help, especially at the end of the day, so club members are encouraged to stay and put the aircraft and equipment back in the hangar;
11. Club equipment should be used with care and common sense;
12. Members who cause damage to club equipment may be required to share in the cost of repairing the damage;
13. Help maintain good relations with the neighbors by not intruding on their property with aircraft, club ground equipment, personal vehicles or foot traffic.

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Operations Away From Richmond Field

1. Planned excursions by club members to other soaring sites with Sandhill Soaring Club equipment is encouraged;
2. Club members who wish to take club equipment to another soaring site must obtain written permission from the Board of Directors at least 30 days in advance of the start of the planned trip;
3. Club members who are making the trip are responsible for ensuring that the trailer to be used is roadworthy and that its use is approved by the Board of Directors;
4. Any deficiencies must be corrected prior to the trip with the club being responsible for the cost of maintenance and repair material only;
5. Any other repair expenses are the responsibility of the members making the trip, unless prior agreement is made with the Board of Directors;
6. Members who are making the trip are responsible for all expenses incurred during the trip and resulting from the trip;
7. The club will divide any expenses that result from the trip equally among all members who requested permission for the trip or who used the equipment during the trip, unless those members make some other arrangement to cover the costs;
8. It is the responsibility of the members taking club equipment off the field to provide insurance or to cover the cost of repairs, towing or other expenses that result from accidents when gliders and trailers are taken away from Richmond Field.

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Using The SSC Info Exchange

Call 734-761-1132:

1. To sign up for a weekend or holiday training flight with an instructor;
2. To reserve the use of a glider for weekday flying;
3. To let others know that a Tow pilot, Instructor, and/or Winch driver is available for weekday flying;
4. To inform the general membership of something interesting;
5. To listen in and find out what's happening!

Instructions for use with a touch-tone telephone:

1. Dial 734-761-1132 and wait for the system to answer;
2. To hear the current messages, press 1 0 (1 then Operator);
3. To leave a message, wait for the two beeps that follow the greeting, and then begin speaking;
4. To first listen to the current messages and then leave a message of your own press 1 0, listen to the current messages, press the * key, wait for the two beeps, leave your message, and then hang up;
5. Additional options are available after the two-beep signal:
   • Repeat the previous message 2
   • Skip to the next message 5
   • Replay all messages 7
   • Record a new message *
   • Wait until the end of all the messages before attempting to replay all messages by entering Code #7
6. Other buttons should not be pressed so that the system is not inadvertently reprogramed.

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