Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 2835; Flight Crew Type 150
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport; Chart Or Publication
Had my aircraft started; warmed up and had heard Piper Pawnee on CTAF stating he was taking off on Runway 13 at BTA. What I did not realize was that he said; 'Runway 13 gliderport' at BTA. I started to taxi to the parallel taxiway for Runway 13 and as I passed the southern most hangar on the north side of the ramp the Pawnee and glider passed in front of me and above me at approximately 100 FT AGL. I was surprised to say the least. The 'gliderport' appears to be on extension of the parallel taxiway. It is dirt; it extends to the north of parallel taxiway of 13/31. I had no idea the glider did not use the same runway as powered aircraft. The A/FD mentions glider operations in passing. The drawing of the airport does not indicate a separate runway for glider operations. Being a transient pilot I was not aware of the 'gliderport'. However having a glider and tow plane taking off over the ramp area at low altitude and airspeed does not seem to me to be very safe.
A Transient pilot began taxiing to BTA Runway 13 and was surprised by a near miss with a glider towing PA-25 as it took off from a grass strip adjacent to the north end of the parallel taxiway.