If the sailplane becomes airborne and the towplane loses power before leaving the ground, what should the sailplane do?

• A. Release immediately and maneuver to the right of the runway.
• B. Continue towing until airborne.
• C. Release after turning left.
• D. Maintain contact with towline until power returns.

Answer: (A)

When the tow plane loses power before the sailplane becomes airborne, the priority is to separate from the tow line immediately. Continuing to tow with a powerless tow plane risks losing control, a possible collision, or the line snagging on the aircraft or the runway. Releasing right away frees the glider to land on its own terms and avoids being dragged or pulled into an unsafe situation.

After release, steering to the right of the runway gives you a clear, unobstructed path away from the tow plane’s potential location and keeps you out of the active takeoff area. This puts you in a safer trajectory for a normal landing.

Continuing to tow until airborne isn’t safe because there isn’t enough power to complete the takeoff, which could lead to a dangerous situation. Releasing after turning left or maintaining contact with the towline until power returns also increases risk by keeping you tied to the tow plane or forcing an unnecessary maneuver.