SAFA Skysailor Magazine

60 SKY SAILOR March-April-May | AUTUMN 2025 AIRS Safety wrap-up – February 2025 by Iain Clarke – SAFA Safety Management Officer Greetings fellow pilots, and welcome (belatedly) to 2025. Let’s get straight into it with some historic reports and then jump back in the Tardis to come forward in time. #1645 – PG accident 29/01/2022 Mt Borah, NSW PIC was landing their paraglider following a flight from Mt Borah, Manilla (NSW). Long grass obscured an obstruction, and they impacted this, fracturing their fibula and dislocating their ankle. They were taken to Tamworth Base Hospital for treatment. Be extremely cautious when landing in long grass. Initiate a strong flare on landing to reduce forward speed as much as possible on touchdown. Always wear footwear appropriate for our activities. #1647 – PPG paramotor out landing, Qld/S PIC was flying their PPG near Jacobs Well (Qld/S), when the netting gave way and was ingested by the propeller. The motor still ran but there was no thrust. They made a successful, forced landing in cane approx. 7-10ft high. Damaged propeller and netting. Pilots are reminded to check the netting for possible points of failure prior to each flight and rectify before firing up the motor. #1648 – PG near miss, NSW PIC had launched their paraglider from the East launch at Bald Hill, Stanwell Park (NSW). They lost lift and approach height, making a top-landing on the East LZ unviable. With traffic in the area, they performed another circuit in an attempt to find lift, but instead lost more height. PIC flew to the north to seek lift, but then the wind died. They then decided to head to the beach LZ. PIC continued losing altitude with the glide ratio deteriorating and landed on rocks less than 40m short of the beach, with the wing in the water. Gear was retrieved, washed, inspected and found to be undamaged. Pilots are reminded to seek a safe landing as soon as an unsuccessful search for lift and deteriorating indications eventuate. #1651 – PG Allegro X-Alps accident 09/02/2022 Dudley/ Bombala, Newcastle, NSW PIC had been on launch at Dudley Street, Bombala (NSW), and observed pilots flying high above launch. There was wind in the trees around launch and wind on