SAFA Skysailor Magazine

39 March | April 2023 SKY SAILOR 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? able to accomplish this, as the mechanism was jammed. PIC assessed landing options, and whilst en-route to one encountered sink, necessitating a landing on the plateau below. This was accomplished safely with no damage or injury. The harness in question, a Kortel Kanibal Race 2, had thick speed bar lines running through lengths of plastic tubing, as delivered from the factory. In that configuration, PIC was able to replicate the behaviour experienced in-flight, whilst suspended from a hanging rig. Kortel were contacted describing what occurred, but they replied that they had never had a similar report. Later iterations of this harness released by the manufacturer replaced the plastic tubing with a friction ring. #1601 – Gundowring PG incident A paraglider pilot found themselves too high on landing approach at Gundowring (Vic) and attempted another circuit to lose height. This set the pilot too low to settle into a stabilised final approach. This rough approach resulted in a hard landing. A jarred ankle resulted. Pilots are reminded to plan their landing approach well ahead of time and take into account contingencies (such as unexpected lift/ sink, changes in wind direction/strength). Once on final approach and near to landing, it is better to steer straight and either run, roll or PLF a landing as necessary. #1608 – Airprox, cautionary PG landing PIC was flying their paraglider in the company of three other PG pilots at Warriewood (NSW).