Feb 2025

Notes for Visiting Licensed Pilots

Texas Soaring Association, Inc.

Introduction

Welcome to TSA! The aim of these Notes is to provide you with local information to help you fly safely. TSA’s procedures may differ from those at other glider airfields where you have flown before. Review of these Notes satisfies TSA’s requirement for a new member to complete a “new member orientation” before flying from TSA provided you do not intend to fly as pilot-in-command of a TSA owned glider. Appendix 1 summarizes the requirements with which a visiting licensed pilot must comply before flying at TSA.

These Notes mainly contain a summary of the provisions of TSA’s Operations, Policies and Procedures Manual (Operations Manual). If you have any questions, please refer to a copy of the Operations Manual, or ask any TSA Director or Instructor. The costs of flying at TSA are contained in the “Schedule of Charges”. The Operations Manual and Schedule of Charges are available online on the TSA website, www.texassoaring.org.

Rigging and Parking Gliders and Vehicles

Trailers can be parked, and glider rigged, parked and tied down in the assembly area in front of the north hangars – see the TSA general location plans in Appendix 2. There is a tiedown cable that runs north/south close to the east edge of the assembly area. Do not park, rig or tiedown east of the cable. When you use this area please take care that gliders tied down in the north hangars are not blocked.

There are water standpipes beyond the north end of the assembly area, and at the North East corner of the K21 hangar.

TSA golf carts are available to tow gliders as an alternative to driving personal vehicles on the field. Golf carts are for glider moving, not personal transportation! When takeoffs are being made to the north, and you elect to take a vehicle to the south end of the field, it must be parked adjacent to the west fence line.

If you park anywhere else than the parking area beside the TSA clubhouse, leave your vehicle unlocked with the keys left in it.

Checking Rigged Gliders

The pilot-in-command is responsible for completing a Critical Assembly Check prior to first flight.

Staging for Launch

Towing is normally carried out from the asphalt runway. When takeoff is to the south, gliders are staged on the “angle” taxiway clear of the main asphalt runway. When takeoff is to the north, gliders are staged at the south end of the asphalt runway. Please note and observe the “hold short” lines on the taxiways adjacent to the main asphalt runway.

In high density altitude conditions when takeoff is to the south, you may request, or be requested, to stage your glider at the north end on the main asphalt runway. In that event, all staging and tows will be made from the north end and the angle taxiway will not be used.

Note: (1) Tows will NOT be made while there are obstructions ahead of or to the side of the glider to be towed. If there is such an obstruction present when you are about to be towed, you should refuse the tow until it has been removed. Please assist this process by not parking gliders or vehicles where they may constitute such obstructions. While all personnel in launch operations must follow this rule at all times, particular vigilance is required in high density altitude or light wind conditions.

(2) If by reason of towhook placement (c.g. or offset) or otherwise, you do not wish to be towed from the angle, you may move your glider onto the main asphalt runway when it is your turn to be towed.

Procedures on the Ground

Field elevation is 660 feet MSL.

TSA’s towrope assemblies contain a rope weak link with nominal breaking load of 1,350 pounds. TSA uses Tost rings on its towropes. It also has available Schweizer-ring adapters. If you need a different towrope assembly, you need to provide it to the line crew.

Billing and record keeping for tows is achieved by use of tow tickets. A pad of tow tickets is normally kept in the cockpit. One ticket is completed for each tow. Before hookup, one of the line crew will convey your completed tow ticket to the tow pilot. No tow will be made without presentation of a tow ticket. Tow tickets for private (i.e. not TSA owned) gliders are YELLOW in color. A specimen appears in Appendix 3. It is used amongst other things to convey special instructions to the tow pilot, such as tow speed (TSA’s Pawnees have airspeed readout in MPH), water ballast aboard, etc.

When you are ready to be towed (when your pre-flight checks have all been completed) you will be offered the towrope for attachment. Once attached, and you are ready to go in all respects, you must signal accordingly to the wing runner by giving a “thumbs-up” signal. Until this is done, the towplane will not take out the slack, nor will the wing runner signal for this to be done. On receiving the thumbs-up signal, the wing runner will first check the pattern is clear, then level the wings and signal take up slack. When you are ready to begin takeoff, indicate this by wagging the rudder, and the wing runner will signal “begin takeoff”. If you elect to give instructions to the towpilot on the radio, you must still give the visual signals to keep the wing runner in the communications loop.

Note: If you intend to hold your airbrakes open at the start of the tow, please so advise the line crew.

Signals

TSA’s signals are based on the standard SSA signals, but with some minor variations. Details of these are in Appendix 4.

Radio

Use of radio advisories is encouraged. Only a “downwind” call is required, unless there are special pattern traffic considerations. The local frequency is 123.30 MHz. If you are flying cross-country, please use 123.50 MHz while away from the immediate vicinity of TSA.

Airspace Restrictions

TSA is situated approximately 3 miles to the south of the perimeter of the DFW Class B airspace, which extends from 4,000 to 10,000 feet MSL at that point. The southern edge of the Class B airspace is delineated on the surface by the extreme south end of a clearly visible white rock quarry/gravel pit due north of TSA.

Temporary Flight Restrictions affect flights from TSA. TFRs sometime exist when the President or other dignitaries are in transit to or from the DFW area. It is your responsibility to check for the existence of TFRs!

Traffic

TSA is just beyond the south edge of the DFW Class B airspace and Mode C veil; these both cause a high volume of traffic transiting just outside their edge. Additionally, when north approaches are being made at DFW airport, traffic separation for aircraft approaching satellite airports (e.g. Dallas Love Field, Fort Worth Meacham and Fort Worth JRB) is provided by routing inbound traffic close to TSA – expect to see heavy jet traffic crossing west/east or east/west at 4,000 feet MSL or above. This requires extra care and vigilance.

Cross-Country

If you plan to fly cross-country, you must have made arrangements for a crew and leave your trailer (closed up and ready to go) attached to your tow vehicle, which should be left unlocked with the keys in it.

Weather Information

TSA has high-speed internet access by way of the club computer located on the Ops desk in the TSA clubhouse. The club also has high-speed “wi-fi” access available for pilots who bring their own devices.

Motor Gliders

If you operate a motor glider, please ask the TSA Instructor who gives you your local area briefing to point out the location of the noise-sensitive areas close to TSA.

Other Airports

The DFW Sectional and VFR Terminal Area Charts show several small private airports close to TSA. Notwithstanding their inclusion on the charts, certain of these are considered unsuitable for landing by gliders. It remains your responsibility to inquire into the suitability of these and other airfields prior to your flight!

TSA Traffic Pattern

TSA normal traffic patterns are flown to the EAST of the field with normal entry at 1,500 feet MSL, 860 feet AGL – see the diagram in Appendix 5. You should be aware that TSA training operations include frequent pattern tows (release at 1,500 feet MSL near the IP when typically the glider will do a 270 degree turn on release before heading downwind in order to increase separation from the towplane), non-standard patterns, and use of the east/west runway. For non-standard patterns and landings on the east/west runway, specific radio advisory calls are normally made.

Thermalling is prohibited in and close to the pattern. You are also requested to stay clear of the IP area except when entering the pattern, and not make spiral descent down to it.

Landing

Except where specifically marked, the entire field is acceptable for landing although parts of the grass may be rough and have ruts. The asphalt runway (18/36) is 3,200 feet long, and the east/west runway (all grass) approximately 800 feet long. The primary landing areas are the north/south asphalt runway and the grass to the east of it. If the primary landing areas are not available, landings may be made on the grass to the west side of the asphalt runway. After touch down, no turns – there may be another glider close behind you. However, it is permissible to roll clear of the asphalt runway at the end of the landing roll. When landing south on the asphalt runway – if there are towplanes/gliders awaiting tow at the angle, stop short of the “do not cross” line (see Appendix 2, second diagram), or roll off the asphalt runway onto the grass to the east (left) to keep well clear of the aircraft at the angle.

Contest Finishes

Practice contest finishes are permitted if, and only if, the rules can be complied with – see Appendix 6.

Liability Insurance

Visiting pilots intending to fly a glider not owned by TSA at or from the TSA field are required to be covered by liability insurance in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 and, prior to first flying from TSA, must exhibit to a TSA Director or other TSA official the policy evidencing such coverage.

General

Please report any unsafe behavior to a TSA Director or Instructor.

Please hand payments (cash or preferably check) to a TSA Director or place them in the black box on the wall above the Ops desk in the TSA clubhouse MARKING CLEARLY from whom the payment is made and what it is for. TSA’s Schedule of Charges (available online or published in the clubhouse) describes the membership, usage, and tow fees for Visiting Licensed Pilots.

For visiting members age 21 and over, beer etc. is available in the fridge in the towplane hangar – charge is $1 per can/bottle/glass, on the honor system, which is to be placed into the cash box on the wall beside the fridge.

TSA hopes you have a safe and enjoyable visit to TSA.

Note: If you have any suggestions for improving or adding to these Notes, please e-mail these to Carl Anderson (carlanderson720@gmail.com) or Marco Raaijmakers (members@texassoaring.org)

Appendices

1. Flight Eligibility Requirements for Visiting Licensed Pilots
2. TSA General Location Plans
3. Specimen Yellow Tow Ticket
4. TSA Tow Signals
5. TSA Traffic Patterns
6. Practice Contest Finishes

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Appendix 1: Flight Eligibility

For the purposes of Visiting Licensed Pilot memberships, flight eligibility requires the pilot-in-command to –

1. have flown as pilot-in-command of a glider launched by aerotow within the preceding 3 months, or take a check ride with a TSA Instructor.
2. have completed and logged a flight review within the preceding 24 months.
3. have received a New Member Orientation. In the case of a pilot not flying as pilot-in-command of a TSA owned glider, this can be accomplished by review of a copy of the TSA Notes for Visiting Licensed Pilots.
4. have received from a TSA Instructor a local area briefing and, if so required by the TSA Instructor concerned, a local orientation flight with a TSA Instructor. In the case of flying at a contest sponsored by TSA, this briefing may be accomplished by attendance at the contest mandatory pilots safety meeting.
5. if intending to act as pilot-in-command of a TSA owned glider, must have received a TSA Instructor’s written logbook endorsement for the make and model of glider to be flown confirming that he/she has demonstrated the piloting skill required to act as PIC of that glider.

Appendix 2: TSA General Location Plans

Asphalt Runway Layout

Appendix 3: Specimen Tow Ticket (must be yellow)

Appendix 4: TSA Tow Signals

Appendix 5: TSA Traffic Patterns

Appendix 6: Practice Contest Finishes

e. A glider may practice a low altitude (below 800 feet AGL) contest finish if, and only if, the pilot-in-command conforms to all the provisions of this Paragraph e:

1. the low altitude contest finish must be performed between the east boundary of the field and the normal pattern downwind leg;
2. the glider making the low altitude contest finish must not pass over the main asphalt runway below 800 feet AGL regardless of the direction of the glider’s finish;
3. the glider making the low altitude contest finish must have an operating radio and have transmitted a traffic advisory on 123.3 MHz;
4. the relevant part of the pattern in use must be clear of traffic throughout the period the practice contest finish and subsequent approach to landing is being made;
5. the relevant part of the pattern is –
   1. when traffic is taking off and landing to the south, that part of the pattern which is to the north of the tow grid; and
   2. when traffic is taking of and landing to the north, that part of the pattern which is to the south of the tow grid;
6. if the glider making the low altitude contest finish is a TSA glider, the pilot-in-command must hold a private or higher glider certificate, meet the requirements for cross country flight in TSA gliders set out in Paragraph a of Part 2 (Flight Operations), Section F (Use of TSA Gliders), Subsection 7 (Cross Country), and have been signed off by a TSA Instructor as having satisfactorily completed a dual flight demonstrating ability to safely make a low altitude practice contest finish.

Regardless of any information which may be passed by radio to the pilot-in-command, it shall be the responsibility of the pilot-in-command making the practice contest finish to ensure, before beginning the practice contest finish, that the relevant part of the pattern will be clear of traffic throughout the period the practice contest finish and subsequent approach to landing is being made.

f. Except in conformity with Paragraph e, no glider shall make a low altitude practice contest finish or other pass over or close to the field or in such a manner as to conflict with normal pattern traffic. This rule shall not apply to a glider while taking part in an organized contest, provided the pilot concerned complies with the applicable contest rules.