SAFA Skysailor Magazine

42 SKY SAILOR September-October-November | SPRING 2026 and been judged by your instructor to be competent and knowledgeable enough to operate outside the confines of a school. It can take many flights and hours to develop the skills to pilot your aircraft in everyday conditions. Equally, it can take many years to develop the skills and knowledge to be able to make good deci- sions regarding conditions in which to fly and how these apply to the site you have arrived at. This is why you must operate under appropriate supervision. Our sport can be very unforgiving and a safe progression through the sport will mean you can enjoy flying for many years. Contact the managing club Before you arrive at a site, you should contact the club that manages the site and introduce yourself. They would like to know about you, where you learnt and when, what flying you have done since your course, and what gear you have. They will also let you know of any requirements you need to be aware of before you arrive, including communi- cations equipment, discuss possible flying days, and who to seek out as possible supervisors prior to flying. You can find a current list of SAFA affiliated clubs and contacts on the SAFA website here . Find a supervisor Supervising pilots are members who have the skills and knowledge to pass on to you concerning the site itself, and the current conditions. They can advise you whether it is safe for you to fly, and if so, what to watch out for. Do not expect that just anybody can supervise you; they must meet a set of criteria to provide super- vision. Do not expect anyone will be willing to do so. Taking on the task of supervising a pilot carries a high degree of responsi- bility and not everyone who is qualified, is also willing to take on that responsibility. On Supervised and Supervising Pilots