Want To Reserve a TSA Ship for Cross

Want To Reserve a TSA Ship for Cross-Country? – TSA’s Board Amends Rules

Implementing its declared intent to encourage members to go cross-country, the TSA Board has simplified the rules for reserving TSA single place gliders to fly cross-country (and for FAI badge duration attempts).

How do you do this? Comply with the requirements of the TSA Operations Manual (amended June 2002) – summarized in "What Do I Need To Go Cross-Country in a Club Ship?" and "How Can I Reserve a Club Ship to go Cross-Country?" – both are attached.

What Do I Need To Go Cross-Country in a Club Ship?

1. What is cross-country? – Any flight out of gliding range of TSA.

2. What qualifications do I need to get before I can go cross-country?

have an SSA Bronze badge;
have been signed off by a TSA Instructor for off-field landings;
have been signed off by a TSA Instructor as able to rig, derig and trailer the glider to be used;
have been signed off by a TSA Instructor after a dual flight demonstrating cross- country techniques.

3. Can I reserve a ship in advance? YES – if you follow the procedure in "How Can I Reserve a Club Ship to go Cross-Country?"

4. On the day I want to go cross-country, what must I do, assuming I have been signed off for the glider?

If you have not pre-reserved a ship (see 3 above), get your name on the Sign-Up Sheet for TSA Gliders for your sailplane of choice; (list opens 10.00 am).
get briefed on the forecast weather, and landing areas and controlled/restricted airspace close to your intended route (if you have been signed off by a TSA Instructor for unsupervised cross-country flight, this can be a self briefing);
have made firm arrangements for a properly equipped retrieve vehicle with full tank of gas, doors unlocked, and keys inside;
have checked that the trailer for the glider to be used is fully equipped, in working order and hooked up, or parked next to your retrieve vehicle ready to be hooked up;
have made firm arrangements for a competent retrieve crew to be available;
get your flight authorized by a TSA Instructor or, if you have been signed off for unsupervised cross-country flights, by a TSA Director;
advise the Line Chief before takeoff that your flight is a cross-country flight, along with the name(s) of your crew.

5. Can I use any single place glider that I have been signed off for?

if there is only one glider of that make/model airworthy and available at the field on the day in question, NO, unless no one else has signed up for it on the Sign-Up Sheet at the time of your tow;
if there is more than one glider of that make/model airworthy and available at the field on the day in question, YES, provided that at least one of the other gliders of that make/model is not be being flown, or about to be flown, cross-country on that day.

6. Is my flight time limited?

No, provided you have met the foregoing requirements.

7. Comply with the requirements of the TSA Operations Manual. If in doubt, read the Manual! See in particular Part 2 (Flight Operations), Section F (Use of TSA Gliders), Subsections 2 (Sign-Up Sheet), 3 (Priority), 6 (Restrictions on Area of Operations) and 7 (Cross-Country). Don’t have a copy? – go to the TSA webpage (www.texassoaring.org), select the "Documents" button and look at "Operations Manual".

How Can I Reserve a Club Ship to Go Cross-Country?

Be familiar and comply with the requirements set out in "What Do I Need to Go Cross-Country in a Club Ship?"

2. Sign up in advance (up to 8 days ahead and not later than 10.00 am on the day of your intended flight) on the Sign-Up Sheet for TSA Gliders on the Operations bulletin board (opposite the water fountain) in the TSA Clubhouse. Mark "X/C" opposite your name.

Arrive at the TSA field not later than 10.00 am on the day of your intended flight.

Comply with the requirements of the TSA Operations Manual (summarized in "What Do I Need to Go Cross-Country in a Club Ship?") if in doubt, read the Operations Manual! See in particular Part 2 (Flight Operations), Section F (Use of TSA Gliders), Subsections 2 (Sign-Up Sheet), 3 (Priority), 6 (Restrictions on Area of Operations) and 7 (Cross-Country). Don’t have a copy? – go to the TSA webpage (www.texassoaring.org), select the "Documents" button and look at "Operations Manual".

If you wish to take advantage of the rule restricting charges on single place gliders to 3 hours on any one day, you still need to report the total time flown on the tow ticket or flight time report ticket, then send a communication to the Treasurer giving details of the flight(s) (your name, TSA member #, date of flight(s) and identity of ship) and requesting a credit for charges in excess of the 3 hour cap.

Note: The advance reservation procedures apply also to flight for FAI badge duration attempts.

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