Equipment for steel winch cables

Cable preamble winch launch

The latest edition of the German Gliding Operation Regulations (SBO) newly regulates winch cable equipment, thereby also integrating the Air Technical Note LTA 73-16:

Connecting sequence
• 3 m safety cable with connecting ring pair
• Weak link
• Intermediate cable: Length 2 m or 10 m

Please see picture of the connecting sequence on page 106 “Schematics Winch launch”.

Safety cable
In order to reduce the danger of loops and tangled cables at the glider, at the beginning of the launch a “stiffened” safety cable of 3 m length is stipulated.

Weak link
Select the correct breaking load according to the manual or TCDS of the towed glider. The position of the weak link can now also be between the connecting ring pair and the safety cable.

Quick release link
When using a double drum winch the leeward winch cable has to be used first. The other cable must be disconnected from the parachute.
Please look for suitable parts on the page entitled “Connectors/Quick Release Links”.

Intermediate cable
With a diameter of the parachute canopy of 1.5 to 2.0 m according to the LTA 73-16 a distance of at least 13 m between the release of the glider and the parachute vent is stipulated. In addition to the 3 m safety cable an intermediate cable of 10 m must be used.
With a canopy diameter of less than 1.5 m the distance between the release and the parachute vent can be lower.  Since the minimum distance is 5 m, however, an intermediate cable of 2 m length has to be used.

Cable parachute
The maximum permissible canopy diameter of the cable parachute is 2.0 m.

Cable preamble – Equipment for steel winch cables

Safety cable 3 m
Manufactured from steel cable encased with a rubber tubing.
We use a red tubing for a better findability of the safety cable in the field.
Both ends are fitted with Tost aluminium solid thimbles for an optimal durability. At the glider side the connecting ring pair is fitted with an 8 mm shackle.
Connect the appropriate weak link to the winch cable side. An 8 mm shackle is pre-assembled.

Our Safty rope for synthetic winch cable is also well suited for use with steel cables (weight saving).

Intermediate cables
The length depends on the canopy diameter of the cable parachute. Manufactured from steel cable encased with a rubber tubing.
We use a red tubing for a better findability of the safety cable in the field.
The stiffening rubber tubing is not stipulated for the intermediate cable, but it is recommendable.
Both ends are fitted with Tost aluminium solid thimbles for optimal durability and with 8 mm shackles.