SAFA Skysailor Magazine

71 AUTUMN 2026 | March-April-May SKY SAILOR highly experienced pilots, and parakites, situational and spatial awareness are paramount. Always be on look out for where the other pilots are: direction, height, speed, heading. Do not assume they have seen you, and be prepared to take evasive action to avoid a collision. Abide by the rules of the air, but always be prepared to change direction to avoid a collision. Be particularly aware of pilots displaying yellow or red streamers; these are very new to the sport, may not possess the skills to rapidly change direction, or may be under instruction, listening to their instructor. In the event of coming in to land, or entering the Sandblow in this instance, many pilots are entering, leaving or setting up to land, from different directions, heights, proximities. Scan the area for all pilots, assess your approach. Is it clear to enter? Constantly survey the area for pilots; if too busy or no safe approach is possible, abort approach and wait for a suitable clear approach. If necessary, put out a radio call of your intentions of wanting to land and an SO may put out a radio call to clear the LZ. Do not become object fixated; look for pilots in all areas including higher or lower than you; gauge their height relative to yours to safely fly above or below them. Remember pilots below you have priority as they cannot see you with the wing above their head. In the event of a collision, as on this occasion, remain calm, stay centred under the wing with no brake inputs. You are suspended below a pilot, and radical movements may dislodge the wing from the pilot above and cause them to lose control of their glider or cause you to start to pendulum and make the impact to the ground harder. Lean forward in your harness and prepare to land on your feet. If you are the pilot and a wing flies into you, wrapping around you, remain calm, stay centred, try to fly straight and level and land safely. If the wing is wrapped over your body and on top of your legs, if safe to do so, allow yourself to support the wing and pilot below until they are landed safely. Do not try to release yourself from their wing; this could drop the pilot onto the ground from a height and cause injury or get caught in an undesirable way on yourself or your control.