Daily Schedule (with links to lecture materials)
Date |
Time / Topics / Activities |
Friday, May 6 - Day 1: Welcome/Camp Operations/Weather |
0900: Introductions - Jim Garrison Introduce instructors and mentors, cover what a mentor is (and is not), outline objectives of 'thermal camp', introduce the wide variety of expertise available to the participants, cover flying/non-flying participation, explain financial considerations. 1000: Field Briefing - Jenn Player Daily schedule, launch order, rally points, radio frequencies, landout/retrieve procedures. Grid area, grid procedures and etiquette, grid times, launch procedures, tow height, tow plane patterns, local traffic conflicts, glider pattern and pattern altitude, roll out procedures. Re- light areas and rope break options at KEMV. 1030: Area Briefing - Eric Lambert Presentation on local airspace restrictions, common traffic issues, crossing airways, landable airports and any restrictions. Type and current condition of potential off-field landing areas – local crops/crop height, field size and quality. ================================================================== Lunch ================================================================== 1330: Lecture: Soaring Weather - Jim Garrison Discussion of good and bad soaring weather, and how to predict and interpret weather data. 1430: Lecture: Cross Country Practice Using Condor - Jenn Player Task Flight Plan File: vasacamp_condorsession_06MAY16.fpl 1500: Lecture: Climbing and the Efficient Use of Thermals - Jim Garrison Essential information about techniques for efficient use of thermals. 1600 -1800 : Flying - Condor Task 1930: Dinner Lecture: Climbing and the Efficient Use of Thermals - Jim Garrison Essential information about techniques for efficient use of thermals. |
Saturday, May 7 - Day 2: Efficient Climbing |
1000: Review of Day 1 - Jim Garrison 1030: Safety Briefing: Gaggle Etiquette - Jim Garrison Safety talk – Thermal and Gaggle Etiquette 1130: Weather Briefing – Group Discussion Description of how to obtain and interpret weather information using the internet and the day's actual weather. Will also cover how the data leads to decisions about the task/conditions. ================================================================== Lunch / Glider Assembly ================================================================== 1300-1700: Flying - All Mentors – Jim Garrison, Eric Lambert, Piet Barber, Mamad Takallu Local flying for all participants as dictated by the weather with emphasis on reading the sky and efficient climbing 1830: Dinner Lecture / Discussion: Landing Out - Jim Garrison A 45-60 min lecture / discussion on landing out. |
Sunday, May 8 - Day 3: Efficient Climbing, Continued |
0930: Review of Day 3 - Jim Garrison 1000: Weather Briefing – Group Discussion 1030: Discussion: XC Speeds / Final Glides - Jim Garrison How to fly cross country and use the thermal lift for an efficient task flight. Strategies for final glides. ================================================================== Lunch / Glider Assembly ================================================================== 1300-1700: Flying - All Mentors – Jim Garrison, Eric Lambert, Piet Barber, Mamad Takallu Local flying for all participants as dictated by the weather with emphasis on thermaling techniques. 1930: Optional Dinner at Local Restaurant (or Participants Head for Home) |
Friday, May 13 - Day 4: Welcome Back / Camp Operations/Navigation |
0830: Introductions - Jim Garrison Introduce / re-introduce instructors and mentors, outline objectives of 'beginning XC / OLC camp', introduce the wide variety of expertise available to the participants, characterize our selection of the pilot groups, cover lead/follow flying, flying/non-flying participation, explain financial considerations. 0900: Area Briefing - Eric Lambert Presentation on local airspace restrictions, common traffic issues, crossing airways, landable airports and any restrictions. Type and current condition of potential off-field landing areas – local crops/crop height, field size and quality. 0945: Field Briefing - Jenn Player Daily schedule, launch order, rally points, radio frequencies, landout/retrieve procedures. Grid area, grid procedures and etiquette, grid times, launch procedures, tow height, tow plane patterns, local traffic conflicts, glider pattern and pattern altitude, roll out procedures. Re- light areas and rope break options at KEMV. 1030: Mandatory Safety Briefing: Gaggle Etiquette - Jim Garrison Safety talk – Do’s and Don’ts of entering and leaving gaggles out on course, scanning for traffic while on course, converging at turn points, etc. 1100: Weather Briefing - Group Discussion Review of how to obtain and interpret weather information using the internet and Friday’s actual weather. Will also cover how the data leads to decisions about the task/conditions. ================================================================== Lunch Session - Mentors and pilots will meet over lunch to review the morning’s discussions and plan for the day’s flight. ================================================================== 1300-1700: Flying - All Mentors – Jim Garrison, Eric Lambert, Piet Barber, JP Stewart, Mamad Takallu Task flying for all participants as dictated by group goals and the weather 1830: Group Debrief / Post Flight analysis - All Review of day's activities, review of flight data records and evaluations/suggestions by the mentors 1930: Dinner Lecture: Navigation and Flight Computers - Jim Garrison How to prepare: (1) A real Sectional for the task/goal; (2) a small sectional for daily marking of the task; (3) GPS navigation; (4) some details of what flight computers do for you; (5) how to get databases and other aids for being organized about flying cross country. |
Saturday, May 14 - Day 5: XC Strategy / FAI Badge Flying / OLC Flying |
0930: Review of Day 4 - Jim Garrison 0945: Safety Talk: Airspace - Jim Garrison Discussion about airspace and flying in different types of airspace. 1000: Discussion: Improving XC Speed - Panel of Mentors, led by JP Stewart How to fly cross country and use the thermal lift for an efficient task flight. Strategies for final glides. 1100: Weather Briefing ================================================================== Lunch meeting with each lead and follow group. The mentor and the members of each group should meet over a brief lunch to talk about what went well the previous day and to discuss the upcoming task and plan for the day. ================================================================== 1300-1700: Flying - All Mentors – Jim Garrison, Eric Lambert, Piet Barber, JP Stewart, Mamad Takallu Task flying for all participants as dictated by group goals and the weather 1830: Group Debrief / Post Flight analysis - All 1930: Dinner Lecture: FAI Badges and OLC Points - Jim Garrison A session on how to plan and execute badge flights, complete associated paperwork. Advice on flying tasks which maximize OLC points. |
Sunday, May 15 - Day 6: XC Flying / OLC Flying |
1000: Review of Day 5 - Jim Garrison 1015: Safety Talk 1100: Weather Briefing ================================================================== Lunch ================================================================== 1300-1700: Flying - All Mentors – Jim Garrison, Eric Lambert, Piet Barber, JP Stewart, Mamad Takallu Task flying for all participants as dictated by the weather 1930: Optional Dinner at Local Restaurant (or Participants Head for Home) |