SAFA Skysailor Magazine

37 January | February 2022 SKY SAILOR daily routines were approached with education in mind. We would meet in the Corryong RSL and get briefed on the weather for the day, with mentors showing how they would use popular tools for wind, thermal strength, top of lift, etc. Participants – or ‘Goalers’ as we were called – had the opportunity to ask questions and appreciate the decision-making process. We could begin to understand how conditions affected our task for the day and the schedule. Event directors soon realised the Goalers needed to know why the heck they were sitting in the community hall and not on launch at 11am. Clearly, a heavy load of eagerness had been brewing in all pilots over the wet year and earlier COVID period. On the flip side, Goalers soon realised the afternoon was the best time to get flying underway at Corryong, so the mornings’ learning and preparing on the ground were all part of getting the most out of the day. The morning activity also included a route plan for the day. Mentors explained their task planning and then gave tuition on building a competition task in flight instruments with waypoints, cylinders, start of speed section, end of speed section and goal. Goalers became pro- ficient in loading tasks into their instruments, both manually and through sharing tools and learnt that the shortest path may not always be the best. We had to inspect and visualise an effective route to each waypoint that may be supported by the terrain, thermal triggers and also considered the changing wind forecast. In addition, there were daily reviews with ‘cheers’ and ‘challenges’. In GFG, the goal was Human Factors Air (the environment) -Man (I’m safe) -Ship (the aircraft) I’M SAFE Illness? Do I have an illness or any symptoms of an illness or disorder? Medication and other drugs? Have I been taking or mixing prescription, over-the-counter or recreational drugs? Stress? Am I under psychological pressure from my job or personal circumstances? Am I worried about financial matters, health problems or family matter? Alcohol? Have I been consuming alcohol within the previous eight hours? Is my blood alcohol level less than 0.02? Would my average alcohol consumption be greater than ‘very low risk’? Fatigue? Am I tired or inadequately rested? Eating and Drinking? Am I adequately nourished and hydrated?