Tennessee Tree Topper Requirements for Instruction at Whitwell.
(1) The pilots and instructors must be full members in good standing of the
Tree Toppers and have all the appropriate registrations and waivers signed,
witnessed and mailed to the Tennessee Tree Toppers where the documents will be
kept on file.
(2) The instructors will have their flying experience and credentials as USHPA
certified instructors documented in written form for the TTT committee's
approval to begin instruction and documents will be kept on file. Approved
instructors must notify the TTT committee by email at
TTTFlylmail or by phone of intent to instruct at our sites.
(3) The instructors must be very experienced, individually approved by the TTT
Committee/Board, will have flown Whitwell in gliders similar to what their
students will be flying and have landed recently in the fields the student's are
expected to use. The instructors will be current at the TTT site to be used
with flights within 2 months of instruction.
(4) The students will provide documentation of mastering a restricted landing
field course such as that provided by LMFP before the students fly Whitwell.
The instructor must be familiar with each student's strengths, weaknesses and
individual skill level. The instructor will do the things a good instructor
does such as walk the LZ with the students, discuss the challenges and dangers
inherent in flying the site, and do a 'chalk talk' of the flight and landing
approach for the intended field before each training flight. Instructors must
choose flight conditions appropriate to the students skill level for launch,
flight and landing. For Hang 2 students, this will generally be early morning
and late afternoon flights.
(5) Whitwell will not be the student's second mountain site experience. The
student pilots should have mountain flying experience at more than just one
mountain site to demonstrate ability to adapt to a new situation. The student
must demonstrate completion of at least 2 instructor supervised flights at
Henson's including flight planning, safe launch, safe flight and appropriate
approach and landing at Henson's before being cleared to train at Whitwell.
After the student pilots and instructors have demonstrated success flying at
Henson's, then they may fly at Whitwell where there will be more pressure to
arrive with adequate altitude to set up a good approach.
(6) A quarterly report of all training activity will be submitted to the TTT
committee. A full report of all accidents or incidents will be reported to the
TTT safety chairman or other board members within 24 hours of occurrence via
email.
(7) The TTT board may revoke this privilege for any student or instructor at
any time for any cause or concern the board deems appropriate
