Towing of gliders
53.—(1)  A relevant operator must not use an aircraft to tow a glider unless —
(a)the Certificate of Airworthiness issued or rendered valid in respect of the towing aircraft under the law of its State of Registry includes an express provision that the aircraft may be used for that purpose; and
(b)the towing of the glider —
(i)is carried out in accordance with an approval granted under the Air Navigation (137 — Aerial Work) Regulations 2018; or
(ii)where sub‑paragraph (i) does not apply, is carried out for such purpose as the Director‑General of Civil Aviation may approve, subject to any condition that may be imposed on the approval.
[S 677/2018 wef 09/10/2018]
(2)  The relevant operator must ensure that the combination of towing aircraft, tow rope and glider in flight does not exceed 150 m in length.
(3)  The pilot-in-command of a relevant aircraft must not commence a flight with a glider in tow unless the pilot‑in‑command is satisfied of the following matters:
(a)the tow rope is in good condition and is of adequate strength to tow the glider;
(b)the combination of the towing aircraft and the glider, having regard to the performance of the combination in the conditions to be expected on the intended flight and to any obstructions at the place of departure and on the intended route, is capable of safely taking off, reaching and maintaining a safe height at which the towing aircraft may separate from the glider;
(c)the towing aircraft can make a safe landing at the intended destination after separating from the glider;
(d)signals have been agreed and communications established with persons suitably stationed so as to enable the glider to take off safely;
(e)emergency signals have been agreed between the pilot‑in‑command of the towing aircraft and the pilot‑in‑command of the glider —
(i)for the pilot-in-command of the towing aircraft to indicate that the tow should be immediately released by the glider; and
(ii)for the pilot-in-command of the glider to indicate that the tow cannot be released.
(4)  In this regulation and regulation 54, “towing aircraft” means an aircraft that is used to tow a glider.