Wrong start gate

How many different ways can we make this mistake?

At the 15 m Nationals in Tonopah NV, I was in one start group for multiple days. The organizers warned us that they would be changing groups daily, however, when my group changed, I didn't notice. I quickly entered the task and started in the wrong group.

When I finished the task, the SN 10 said I was over 100 mph. Congregating outside the scorer's office waiting for the score sheets to be taped on the window, I kept looking for my name. Somewhere on the second page there I was in the 70's. Normally 77mph is a good speed, but the winner was over 111 mph! The only reason I even got a score was that I had wandered through my correct start nearly an hour before when I thought I started through the wrong gate.

I won't tease Andy Brayer too much this time, because deep down in his heart he knows he could have been the Club Class National Champion in 2017 if he knew the difference between B and D.

My new procedure works great. I keep a paper task sheet in the cockpit. This makes it easier to double-check that it aligns with the flight computer. First, I input the task into the computer and double-check it is correct. Then I have my crew read the task sheet while I check the flight computer. Next, I read the flight computer while my crew looks at the task sheet. Hopefully, by this point, I have caught any errors. Generally, there is some time between checking by myself and with the help of another person. Hopefully, this will eliminate giving the check "lip service" by just reading more off memory than by eyesight.

This method can also work for those pilots who are crewless. In the US we do a positive control check with someone else. They sign the tape on the wing verifying that it has been done. You can check your flight computer with another pilot on the grid, and in return, you can check their computer. Maybe you should choose your help wisely, but under most conditions, this would be a pretty safe practice.

Photo:  Sean Franke

 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.