Sunday was another day where threat and error management revealed that flexibility and patience would be required, and were delivered with an addition dollop of teamwork.
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| Threat and Error management at work. The CFI takes a launch in the K8 |
The ongoing problems with the ML winch inexplicably losing power, despite running to full revs following fit of its reconditioned injector unit, were subject to a threat error test by Don in the K-8, our lightest glider, the outcome of which was emphatic: the power loss was dramatic, approximately 10 seconds into the launch, in spite of full throttle being applied. Mitigation of the threat was by 'Termination', i.e.. to stop using the ML and fallback onto the Guslaunch as the vehicle of choice for the day.
That was where the teamwork came in as, with only one drum in operation, this meant a pretty constant shuttle for the retrieve driver plus a slick operation at each end of the airfield to ensure that the maximum launch rate was achieved. It was very fortunate that we had David Jesty on hand to instruct, despite his snowboarding injury, for the flying list consisted of at least three juniors, all keen to get into the air, plus regulars Roger Appleboom, David Parker Colin Boyd and Allan Holland. And with a wind just east of south and a clear sky beckoning, why not?
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| K7M G-DDAK takes another launch |
Sadly the much anticipated wave did not materialise, but with both K-13s on hand we did manage to get through the flying list and pack the gliders away with a sense that everyone had made their contribution to making the day a success, so far as was possible and safely practicable. Let's hope the mechanical genies can work their magic on the ML for Wednesday: there's an Easterly forecast!
Martin Cropper
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