Monthly Soaring Magazine Articles for 2022

January - The Possible Turn by Richard Carlson - SSF Chairman

At a recently completed Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) we had a short discussion on planning and executing the dreaded 'Premature Termination of the Tow' (PT3) event, commonly called a rope break. The discussion started with the question, what factor or factors are important in determining if you turn back and land at the airport or not. Read the full article.

February - 2022 SSA Convention Activities

Later this month the Soaring community will gather in Reno NV for its biennial convention. In addition to the great activities and speakers the SSA has in store for us, the Soaring Safety Foundation (SSF), and the Organisation Scientifique et Technique Internationale du Vol a Voile (OSTIV) will contribute speakers and host events that all can enjoy. Join us and take advantage of the expertise and knowledge that the SSF and OSTIV will provide. Read the full article.

March - Covid Corrosion. (Rusty Pilot? That's Me!) by Burt Compton

24 months so far with the threat of exposure to Covid-19 limiting our flying. If you, like me, have not been flying consistently for several months we may not be current and definitely not "proficient." Read the full article.

April - 2021 Soaring Accident Summary by Soaring Safety Foundation Trustees

For the twelve-month period ending October 31, 2021, twenty (20) gliders and two (2) motorgliders, were involved in twenty-one (21) separate accidents meeting the reporting requirements of NTSB Part 830 of the Code of Federal Regulation. A mid-air collision between 2 gliders accounts for the discrepancy between 22 aircraft and 21 accidents. This represents a 4.5% decrease in the number of accidents reported during the previous 12 month reporting period. Read the full article.

May - Gliders and Checklists by Bill Palmer

Aviation is incredibly safe; in fact, it is amazingly safe by any measure. But it is not inherently so. It is only that way because a lot of people work hard every day to make it safe. You need to be one of those people. Read the full article.

June - The Possible Turn? by Tom Johnson

People who fly light single engine aircraft have been debating for a while now, whether you should attempt a return to the runway should you experience a loss of power on departure from the airport. They refer to this as "The Impossible Turn". Read the full article.

July - The Positive Flight Review By Richard Carlson

Recurrent training is the hallmark of the professional pilot. Every airline and military pilot is required to undergo some form of recurrent training, typically on an annual basis. This training allows the pilot to refresh those unused skills, things they don't usually practice on a regular basis. Some insurance companies also require pilots flying complex airplanes to take annual recurrent training at an approved flight school. Read the full article.

August - The FAA Safety Team Website by Glenn Collins - SSF Advisor

The FAA Safety Team web site is a great source of materials useful to pilots. You can access the site at www.faasafety.gov. While the basic site provides access to most of the materials, setting up an account and logging into the site provides full access. At the top right corner of the page, you will see the log in panel. Input your login e-mail and password to log in. If you do not have an account set up there is a link in this panel to create an account. Read the full article.

September - WINGS - The FAA's Pilot Proficiency Program by Richard Carlson

Last month we introduced you to the FAASafety.gov web site and the resources you can find on that site to aid in making soaring a life-long learning activity. In July we discussed how the FAA's WINGS program provides an alternate means of compliance for completing a Flight Review. This month we'll put these pieces together and discuss exactly how you can obtain a WINGS Phase, thus satisfying your Flight Review requirements. Read the full article.

October - A Great In-Vest-Ment by Tom Johnson

As I get ready to climb into my sleek European sailplane for a flight, I dutifully take out my phone, wallet, and anything else I happen to be carrying. I stuff them into the side pockets, and I always wonder to myself what would happen to them if I had to exit the sailplane in flight. I know if I had to get out quickly, I would not be able to grab these items that may be very useful to me once I was on the ground. The stuff would be of no use to me. I knew there had to be a better way, but what? Read the full article.

November - Mission Impossible by Tom Johnson

As an avowed aircraft and flying nerd, I read any and all flying publications I can get my hands on. I place great value in the different perspectives they avow for the various segments of aviation they cater to. Read the full article.

December - Early Motorgliding in the USA by Stephen Dee

The Soaring Safety Foundation is the dedicated "training and safety arm" of the Soaring Society of America. As such, most of our articles in this column are focused on current training and safety practices. I am going to deviate a bit from the norm and take you on a brief walk back in time to one of the early pursuits of motorgliding here in the USA. Read the full article.