SAFA Skysailor Magazine

34 SKY SAILOR September | October 2021 AIRS #1488 – Tree landing in bowl to avoid powerlines A low airtime PG2 pilot flying from Mt Elliot over-committed into an area where there was a powerline and lost sight of that powerline. Once the pilot realised where the powerline was, a choice of either a controlled flight into foliage or the powerline developed. The pilot flew into foliage and self-extracted. Pilots must remain aware of hazards in and around a launch area. Any flight decisions made must ensure those hazards are avoided. Now down to Flowerdale (Three Sisters). AIRS #1136 – Emergency landing, canopy in tree, no injury A low hours PG2 pilot was flying their paraglider at Flowerdale (Vic). After 10 minutes of flight, they realised they were too far from the hill and lost lift. They delayed making the decision to head to the LZ and although aware they were flying into wind and may not have sufficient height to make it to the LZ, chose to make more turns, losing more altitude. Rather than land in a safe alternative location, the PIC fixated on landing in the designated LZ, persisted with that plan, despite believing that they likely did not have adequate height to make it. They landed feet on the ground upwind of a tree and into wind with a normal flare, but the wing went into the tree. There were inadequate in-flight communications with the PG2. Stress experienced by low airtime pilots may have been a contributing factor, given they were making decisions under pressure, and were eventually required to land in an unfamiliar and potentially hazardous location. Adequate supervision of PG2s must be provided, especially if they’re just commencing flight operations. Carriage and use of radios for in- flight communication assist greatly in this respect. Let’s go coastal… AIRS #1306 – Near miss at Cooks PIC is a PG2 pilot with a little over 10 hours airtime. They had launched at Cooks Terrace, Mona Vale (NSW). After launch, they started ridge soaring but were also struggling to get into their harness (following spending hours adjusting it with the help of experienced pilots). This caused oscillations and height loss. They were advised to get closer to the hill in order to get into more lift by the supervising pilots on the ground. As they flew closer to the hill, they hit a bush at the edge of the ridge and ended up clinging on to a sturdy tree branch and avoided hanging from the edge, or worse, falling to the bottom. PIC has now changed harness. ‘Always aviate and navigate first’, pay attention to the important factors, while trying to stay in the air. It is safer to land and sort gear than manoeuvre close to terrain while distracted. AIRS #1429 – Accident at Nuns Beach A low-hours PG2 pilot had launched at Nuns Beach near Portland (Vic). They did not follow the agreed flight plan to follow after a PG3 pilot and had launched before them. They performed an initial 180-degree turn, then AIRS Safety Wrap-up