Emergency aerial drill alarms town residents

Practices in emergency release and landing scenarios got the attention of residents in North Springfield who didn't know the aerial maneuvers they witnessed Wednesday evening were planned.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100604/NEWS02/6040367/1003/NEWS02 # # # # Emergency aerial drill alarms town residents  •  Rutland Herald  •  STAFF REPORT - Published: June 4, 2010  •  SPRINGFIELD — Practices in emergency release and landing scenarios got the attention of residents in North Springfield who didn't know the aerial maneuvers they witnessed Wednesday evening were planned.  •  North Springfield resident Carol-Lynn Knight said she and many of her neighbors watched in fear as a glider being towed into the sky released early when its tow rope disengaged. Knight said the glider circled low over the treetops as it headed back to Hartness State Airport.  •  But what seemed like an accident narrowly averted was part of practice drills that glider pilots perform in case a real accident at low altitude requires them to release early from a towing aircraft, airport manager Craig Chamberlin said.  •  "They practice close calls all the time," he said. "It wasn't anything out of the ordinary last night."  •