Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

See Also :
• Crop Landing

What is a P.I.O?

PIO stands for Pilot Induced Oscillation.

PIOs are more common with high performance wings and are normally associated with high airspeeds, aero-towing and/or turbulence.

An example of a Pilot Induced Oscillation is when the glider rolls one way and the pilot over-corrects causing the glider to opposite roll. Continual over-correction in this manner can result in a roll oscillation where the glider rolls left and right in ever increasing amplitude.

The main reason this happens is because pilot inputs do not normally happen instantaneously. That is, a correcting weight shift by the pilot may take a few moments for the glider to respond. If the pilot fails to recognise this input to response delay, the pilot will increasingly add additional weight shift which ultimately further worsen the problem.

The remedy for a pilot induced oscillation is to relax, remain still, centring on the control bar getting the glider back into trim. Any corrections that need to be made should be gentle.