@Dave Unwin - sadly CATFUNT is correct.
My experience of ACO Gliding (since 1979 as Cadet and Instructor):
1. Conjoint Glider operations are not welcomed (that is Civilian and ACO) on the same field. The ACO Operates low experience student pilots training to a relatively low level of proficiency (albeit safe) and does not want the additional risk of either powered or glider operations that interfere with either the flying task or affects safety. This may not be 'written down' policy but is my experience.
2. Mixed Operations of civilian power and ACO winch launch aircraft are not welcomed either. Frankly the two are rarely compatible and create problems for each other with Power aircraft doing circuits and not confined to the standard operations and ACO winch launch aeroplanes dropping thousands of yards of cable across the airfield or launching to 1500'+ and creating a hazard for the power traffic.
3. Cable creates a FOD hazard to jet aircraft and that is why you don't get winch launch operations on fast jet airfields nowadays. This is why VGS such as Linton, Chivenor, Odiham and Lossie are motorglider operations. VGS such as Hullavington and Upavon are winch launch because there is very little/no jet operation there (inc helos)
4. Cross wind and wind strengths in general are a feature of ACO operations. When the wind goes out of limits as defined in the Flying Order Book we have to change the run we are using to reduce the risks and issues faced by the student landing in a crosswind and also to prevent cables drifting onto our 'neighbours'. Some days when the wind changes 3 or 4 times and goes out of limits we change the run 3 or 4 times a day. This is time consuming for a Winch Operation and can annoy our conjoint partners intensely.
5. Conjoint Operations often have to stop if a student is going 'first solo' to reduce the risk and issues he/she may face. This also can annoy our neighbours who often don't 'get it'.
6. Syerston operates conjoint Vigi and Viking Ops and these are largely experienced instructors but the rules and separation criteria are the same. Circuits are in opposition and reflect the differing abilities and operational profile of the two types to reduce the risk around the separate operations.
Finally,
7. COWS you clearly don't understand the rationale behind ACO gliding. There are many fields we could fit a Winch onto but that doesn't make them suited to an ACO type of operation. Assessment of sites is undertaken by the experienced staff at ACCGS and CFS - they are always keen in my experience to try and operate where possible. The agreement is also with any based units and the Defence Land Agent (DLA) - often Operation taskings mean non-availability of potentially suitable sites. In addition many operations have been tried on non-MoD sites in the past and tend to fail due to the issues highlighted above. If we were just pinging off a few winch launches with experienced pilots going cross country or local soaring then OK, but not for the ACO whose primary tasking is training and AEG.
I accept from Dave Unwin that 100+ launches a day (200 movements) does not sound a lot but there are not many civilian gliding clubs that could do that many training launches...........................
anyway back on topic lets hope this whole fiasco is sorted as soon as possible for the ACO so Cadets can get flying again.
Arc