SAFA Skysailor Magazine

24 SKY SAILOR July | August 2021 Getting it right Last year, before we were kicked out of Bright, I was discussing this subject with Jason from Geelong who flies both hang gliders and paragliders. We both adopt the same strategy coming into the field: Look along the glide slope to the point on the ground that is not moving towards or away from you. This is the point where you will be landing at any given point in time. At this point it is important not to lock your focus on that point – as your speed in/decreases or you experience a change in your descent rate, that point will move. From here on in, I have the problem. Jason reminded me of the technique we were taught: When you are getting close to landing, say less than 5m above the ground, resist the urge to look at where you think your feet are going, and lift your gaze to the end of the field. This is incredibly difficult to do – retraining your brain – but it works. You find that you just know the right moment to flare and are rewarded with a perfect ‘step-out-of-the-air’ touch down. Bliss. This is the way we are taught, but we seem to forget along the way, and it is very much the way pilots of three-axis aircraft conduct their landings – I guess it helps to have a dashboard to block the view ahead and below. This technique is equally applicable to HG and PG landings. The only difference is the controls used to affect the landing – push on the downtubes or pull on the brake lines. The importance of not being fixated on a particular point on the ground or any other object, cannot be overstated. Way before I undertook flight training, my first motorcycle instructor told me that you will go where you are looking. The upshot is to look as far ahead as possible, while still maintaining an active scan through all distances. The same holds true while piloting. We have seen regular reports where pilots have ended up in a tree off launch, because that was where they were looking – at the nearest hazard when something has not gone according to plan. To conclude, avoid exaggerated turns low to the ground, don’t fixate on your expected point of touch down and look up to the end of the field. If you have flared too soon, avoid releasing the brakes and swinging through as a result. The resulting impact can be very painful. Happy and safe landings. Reflections on landings Above and right: Sandpatch Albany, WA Photos: Peter Kovesi