Traffic Pattern
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- September 17, 2025
When approaching to land in a busy gliding environment, awareness and anticipation are crucial. Good lookout begins on final glide long before you reach the circuit!
On Final Glide
Final glide established!: Start by having a few bites to eat, drinking some water, You want your brain working for the end part & throughout the glide! Before you reach the 10 km mark, you can listen to automated weather
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- July 10, 2019
As you plan your return to your landing site it's best to stay offset, so you do not fly directly over it. Not only should you offset yourself, you probably do not want to be going the opposite direction with the pattern. The way we return from one of our mountains sets us up well to circle the airport before entering the pattern.
Opposite Direction
However, some students will try and fly directly
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- August 29, 2018
Number 8,472 student is trying to kill you. I have a phrase I repeat on landing, "Am I high? Am I low? Is my speed ok?" These are 3 separate questions requiring 3 different things to be done to resolve them. If I am high I need to use more spoilers. If I am slow I need to lower the nose.
But my student this morning tried to stay on glide by slowing down. This could be very subtle at first. But the
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- October 25, 2017
One of the most common un-centering techniques that students demonstrate to me is switching directions in a thermal. It always happens, a student is not completely centered, the ADHD kicks-in, or something kicks-in and they decide to switch directions. I make sure to look around really well and let them fly right out of the thermal, generally not finding it again. Makes for a good debrief.
Typically