INTO THE SUNSET? NO THANX!

This is an appeal to all tow pilots, but because few who read it are tow pilots, it’s up to us as their followers to relay the message. It is we, after all, who stand to benefit.Ever landed straight into a setting sun? You’ve probably driven a car there, or commuted into that same sun as it’s rising, and know the hazard. Almost anything is better, right? Tow pilots should know that too, bless their hearts, yet sometimes circumstances or unthinking chance lead them straight into a setting sun – with us squinting at their six.They can divert their gaze and do fine, but we who follow them must hold eyes on that silhouetted tug even as the blasting light fries our retinas. How long before normal vision fully returns after such a toasting? Too long.Add a real life abort to that and…Granted, few glider pilots launch less than an hour before sundown, but it does happen. Say you’re rushing an aero-retrieve while there’s barely time to get home before dark. Or a test hop after some maintenance so she’ll be ready to roar first thing tomorrow? In fact we were launching multiple pattern tows till local sunset this very November.This time of year the sun is low all day long, but like most things, it can only be in one place at a time, which leaves 359 other directions to fly without heading straight at it shortly after takeoff.Landing, however, offers less freedom. Here at Crystal, we may chose to take off and land with a light tailwind rather than stare at the demon sun, so we can see all other traffic whether they’re blinded or not. It’s a fine solution, weather permitting, so long as other traffic is accounted for and sufficient communication takes place.Otherwise, sunsets are better watched from the ground!