Before this day there were emails, maybe some phone calls, and maybe even a face to face conversation or two. The fly day is not the time for study, it is the time to demonstrate what you can do. All the prep has been done, and you should show up early, ready to fly.

Once both pilots are at the field, you should agree on two times:

1. The time you will meet at a prearranged location for a pilot meeting and
2. The time you plan to hook up the tow rope for launch.

Be as realistic as possible when setting these times, and plan to meet them. Both the Mentor and the Student will work around these times. If you want to reschedule any times, then coordinate. Be sure to keep the tow pilot informed as well, and coordinate his schedule also ( he may have commercial tows scheduled, that may be in conflict with your plans).

Glider assembly

Both the mentor and the student should have their gliders fully assembled, prior to commencing the pilot meeting.  

Equipment

Both the student and the mentor must have the following equipment in their glider:

• GPS
• Radio that is clear and useable
• A strong battery is mandatory to insure GPS and Radio reliability.

Demonstration

Before the pilot meeting, each pilot should demonstrate to the other pilot the GPS equipment that he is intending to use inflight. This may take a full ten minutes. Demo the following, and make the simulated radio calls:

1. Select a TP and state distance to that TP in statue miles - exactly.
2. Change to another TP and give position.
3. Change back to the goal TP and state distance to the goal and the altitude you currently need to reach that goal with 1,000 ft arrival altitude at the TP.

This will eliminate unnecessary radio chatter tremendously. Show the other how you read the miles to a site, how you change sites, which units of measurement are displayed (sm is preferred). Display your database so the other pilot may see what you will be looking at inflight, etc. Show what altitude you will be using as you arrive over each of your goals, what polar info do you have set in, etc. This is important- Both gliders should be set to the lowest polar performance numbers, as well as altitude over the goal, so as to have common denominators for this critical info. The higher performance glider should "dummy down" to the lower performance ship.

Soaring Weather

Prior to the preflight briefing, each pilot should have assessed the soaring conditions for the day, and should plan to address the anticipated soaring conditions at the Pilot Meeting. Have a plan in mind, based on todays conditions, as to what ask you will fly - prior to teh pilot meeting.

Pilot Meeting

The pilot meeting should be hard scheduled. Be there at teh appointed time. Each pilot should perform all of their normal preflight duties around this meeting, and be prepared to sit down and discuss all of the necessary details of the planned flight. A minimum of 30 minutes will normally be required to accomplish an effective meeting.

Allow sufficient time after the pilot meeting to complete pre-launch duties.

A last minute meeting should be conducted near the gliders, prior to pushing on to the runway, to agree on the direction and height of the tow, the intended route of flight, and any changes to the previously discussed flight parameters.

The Agreement

Both pilots need to be clear about, and agree on the terms of the agreement.

1. Each pilot is responsible for their own safety. Neither assumes responsibility or assumes any liability for the other, including gound or aero retrieves.
2. The leader (that is, the student) will release from tow first ( if single tows).
3. The leader will depart the thermal first if both are in the same thermal.
4. The leader will clearly state which turnpoint he is going to next, and will not change to another TP before telling the mentor of the new plan.
5. The leader should alter the task as necessary throughout the flight - selecting and changing the route to the goal TP as necessary, but always telling the mentor about every change.
6. As soon as the leader decides he is going to a different turnpoint, or is returning to a previous position, he will clearly communicate the change to the mentor.
7. The leader should state agreement or disagreement with any in-flight suggestions by the mentor - such as leaving a thermal at a certain time, modifying the route or the planned goal, etc.
8. The mentor will clearly state if he is not going to go to the same turnpoint as the leader- and will explain why not.
9. The mentor WILL either cross each turnpoint selected by the student (if he is ahead of the student) or will remain behind the student, and continue to follow him.
10. The mentor, if he arrives first at a TP, will wait for the student to arrive at each turnpoint before proceeding any further outbound, unless requested otherwise by the leader.
11. The mentor will wait for the student to commence final glide before commencing final glide himself. 
12. Both pilots will use radio procedures as outlined in this program.
13. Either mentor or student should return to the field early if either feels that is the safest thing to do.

Radio communication

The initial radio frequency to be used will be - __________

Back up/ alternate frequency will be - _____________

Conversations should be minimal, concise, and structured.
Do not say things that do not need to be acknowledged, unless it is an announcement of a fact that you want others to know.

Mentor portion of briefing

The mentor should read these "Expectations" aloud to the student (read both lists):

The Student should:

• Not expect the mentor to make the decisions on which route the flight should be flown, when to move to the next thermal, when to return home, etc..
• Not expect the mentor to find lift.
• Not expect the mentor to find a safe landout site.
• Not expect the mentor to remain silent, and not answer questions.
• Not expect the mentor to stay with or ahead of the student. If the student is good, he may well be far ahead of the mentor.
• Not expect the mentor to assume any responsibility for the student.
• Not get ticked off when the Mentor opens spoilers or returns to 'help'

The Student should:

• assume full responsibility for himself.
• make all decisions for himself
• recognize this is not "a fee for a service" - the mentor is there to facilitate.
• expect the mentor to offer suggestions as he may deem appropriate.
• not wait for the mentor while flying, however, if the mentor clearly requests the student to wait for him to catch up, the student should if feasible, double back, or wait for the mentor.
• attempt to answer any questions the mentors may have while inflight.

The Mentor should:

• express agreement or disagreemnet on every stated decision by the student.
• open spoilers and go back down to student's altitude -if too far ahead.
• follow the student home

The Mentor should not:

• Landout with the student

Student portion of briefing

The student is the leader. The decision maker for the day. If the student is going to fly cross-country, he needs to be in charge right from the start. The mentor, is there to provide advice, offer opinions and suggestions if necessary, and demonstrate as necessary. This is not a day for the student to try to keep up with the mentor, it is a day for the student to demonstrate his skills, and be encouraged by the mentor to practice techniques that may result in flying further and faster. A pilot does not learn to fly cross-country by watching, he learns by doing.

The Student should brief the following:

• General soaring conditions expected for the day -__________________
• Time of Sunset - _____________________________
• Suggested takeoff time - ______________________
• Suggested landing time - ______________________
• Average ground speed anticipated for the day - _______________
• Expected distance to be flown - ________________________
• Suggested route of flight and set of turnpoints to be used for the day - __________________

Checklist Before Takeoff

1. Glider rigged and ready for final preflight check.  
2. Radio check between ships, and agree on short call signs to be used inflight.
3. Preflight preparations and Pilot Briefing completed. 
4. GPS set and checked and demoed.
5. Food, water, sunscreen, charts, etc..
6. Trailer ready for hookup for a ground reiterate (tail dolly, wing stands, special rigging equipment, etc.) .
7. Keys in your vehicle in the event it needs to be moved.  
8. Tow vehicle full of fuel.  
9. Pre-arrangements completed for a ground crew to do a ground retrieve.
10. Cell phone on board, retrieve phone number available in the cockpit.
11. Cell phone numbers exchanged with other pilots and with ground personnel.
12. Airport Registration Card completed, which contains the name, address and phone number for a point of emergency contact.

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