End of the Line: Glider Pilot Aerotow Manual Overview:

Mastering the aerotow is one of the more challenging tasks that the soaring newcomer must acquire.

The FARs require flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures: Launches, including normal and crosswind; Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions; Inspection of towrope rigging and review of signals and release procedures; Aerotow procedures; Emergency operations, including towrope break procedures.

This book will help you understand and master each of these items. Well illustrated.

Author's Notes by Murray Shain:

Anyone watching a sailplane for the first time may get the impression that soaring is a carefree sport. Gliders appear to fly so freely and gracefully through the skies that much of the really intensive work sailplane pilots and crews perform is invisible to casual observers.

Mastering the aerotow is one of the more challenging tasks that the soaring newcomer must acquire. In every other category of aircraft, whether airplane, rotorcraft, lighter-than-air or powered lift, a pilot is concerned only with the handling of his or her machine. In gliders launched by aerotow, the glider pilot needs to control the glider and simultaneously pay close attention to the actions of the towpilot and towplane.

Learning to fly steadily behind a towplane may seem strange at first. But with a little concentration and practice, you'll master it, as do the many hundreds of people each year in the United States who learn to soar.

The Federal Aviation Regulations stipulate that a student pilot (in gliders) trained to launch by aerotow must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:

• Launches, including normal and crosswind;
• Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;
• Inspection of towrope rigging and review of signals and release procedures;
• Aerotow procedures;
• Emergency operations, including towrope break procedures.

This book will help you understand and master each of these items. As you read this book, stop occasionally, sit back, and absorb what you have just studied. Then, re-open the book and continue. If you study this way, you will get maximum benefit from this book. If you are a glider flight instructor, I hope that you will find my book useful for training your students, and that you will recommend it to them.  The terms glider and sailplane are used interchangeably in this book. Most pilots prefer the word sailplane. The FAA uses the term glider.

Author:  Murray Shain

Contents
2 About The Gliding Mentor Series
3 Author's Notes
6 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Aerotow
7 Before You Aerotow
8 The Pre-Launch Checklist
9 The Aerotow Begins
9 The Takeoff
12 Climbing Out: The High Tow Position
15 Turns On Aerotow
16 The Low Tow Position
17 Getting Into The Low Tow Position
18 Boxing The Wake
20 Normal Release Procedure
21 Slack Rope Procedures
21 The Roller Coaster
22 Snapping The Whip
24 The Inside Sinker
24 The Slingshot
25 The Tailgater
26 Emergency Procedure Preparation: The Three Steps
26 Aerotow Emergencies: The Takeoff Phase
28 The 200-Foot Callout
29 Crosswind Considerations
30 Climbout Emergencies
32 Release Mechanism Failure
32 Simultaneous Release Mechanism Failures
33 Approach And Landing On Aerotow
33 Summary: Aerotow Emergencies
34 Closing Thoughts About Aerotows
36 Signals For Ground Operations
37 Airborne Aerotow Signals
38 Tow Rings And Tow Ropes
38 How To Contact Murray Shain
38 About The SSA
39 The Gliding . . . Made Easy! Book Series
40 Bob Wander's Soaring Books & Supplies
BC About Murray Shain
BC About Bob Wander