Database Maintenance
Know your database. Spring is here and everyone is getting ready to go flying again. Many people have started coming out from winter hibernation and starting to get current again. Now is a good time to take a drive and look at those airports you are planning on using. Many articles have been about getting your equipment ready and understanding how to use it. What about the information it is displaying, is it current?
It sure would be a surprise to abandon your task only to arrive over a vineyard which is listed as a runway and the nearby fields are also gone (Ward Ranch if anyone is working on ours). If you cannot get your feet on the ground an airplane at somewhat low altitude to check out the condition is better than nothing. There is a good chance that someone at the local glider club has access to an airplane.
Walking the nearby fields
At the WGC in Finland, the US Team went out and walked the last few fields before the airport. Those fields were still almost 10km away and the last landable areas before the airport. The final glides into Rayskala were not ones that you wanted to be short on, one direction had a few fields before the forest to the airport, another was over the lake, and another direction was nothing but forest for a long time.
It is worth adding to the database what fields are around your airfield in case of a low return. Many accidents are within 5 miles of the airport. It is not good when you run out of options and altitude. But if you know that field 2 miles from the airport it might save you one time trying to get home. A premature release could put you in the field just as easy as a failed final glide.
soaringweb.org
The database you are flying with from soaringweb.org that is loaded into your flight computer might be 15yrs old. A lot can change to a private airport in 15 years. It is worth it to drive or fly around and confirm the database is still accurate. Google earth is helpful and might give you an idea of the field, but the time of the update might not be very helpful to what someone did over the last winter.
We had a local paved private airport that was listed on the FAA database but it has not been landable for the last 20 years. It is no longer listed on the sectionals as of about a year ago. Confirming all of the airports in your database is important not just ones that are locally made. The satellite picture did not really show the cracks in the runway that you would not be able to roll through.
The flight computers now are much more comprehensive than they were when these databases started. It is worth it to work on the database's data. Frequencies might need to be updated, elevations can be wrong. There is room now for remarks or notes about the airport. I noticed when flying the other day that the flight computer was displaying an outdated CTAF frequency. Some flight computers can push the frequencies to your radio.
We all might know the condition of a particular field that is listed on the local database, however, the newbie glider pilot or the non-local might not. Get a group of a few pilots together to tackle this seemingly overwhelming project and have it ready to go with the rest of your equipment.
Banner Photo by elfo.sk
Canopy Restoration
Micro–Mesh® KR70 Hand Polishing Kit is a hand kit used to restore up to 30 square feet of acrylic canopy. A favorite canopy restore kit with sailplane owners. This versatile kit will remove light damage and restore optical clarity.
Oudie IGC
Oudie IGC version is similar to the Oudie 2, but with the addition of a few functions and features. Oudie IGC is a flight computer which aims to provide everything a glider pilot needs for navigation in one simple package. Connect it with onboard 12V power supply and you are ready to fly.
Oudie IGC is shipped with all accessories and cables required including suction cup mounting for an easy install. Lifelong software updates are free ensuring your instrument is always up to date.
It is the obvious choice if you are looking for an affordable personal navigation device which will grow with you or wish to upgrade your cockpit with ease.
Oudie IGC comes pre-loaded with the proven Naviter software packages: SeeYou Mobile and ConnectMe, along with pre-installed worldwide vector maps, airspace and landing sites, plus the purchase price includes unlimited software upgrades for the lifetime of your device.
Garret Willat holds a flight instructor rating with over 8000 hours in sailplanes. His parents have owned Sky Sailing Inc. since 1979. He started instructing the day after his 18th birthday. Since then, Garret has represented the US Junior team in 2003 and 2005. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. Garret has won 3 US National Championships.