Essex CO6 3AQ Tel: (01206) 242596
glide[at]esgc.co.uk
"essexandsuffolkglidingclub" |
Wormingford Airfield, Fordham Road, Wormingford, Colchester, Essex CO6 3AQ Tel: (01206) 242596 glide[at]esgc.co.uk "essexandsuffolkglidingclub" |
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You have all been waiting very patiently for another issue of this safety briefing, so my apologies for the long time it has taken me to get round to it. Pressures of work, and of course last year I was at Portmoak for most of the season.
I have been prompted to get on with it by an e-mail conversation with the editor of the CAA charts, who has advised me that the new gliding club symbol on the charts is the only way of annotating the chart with our existence, unless we want an ATZ which is prohibitively expensive. I contacted him because it is clear that GA pilots have lately been displaying poor airmanship by getting very close to us while we are operating. Some have even overflown the winch. I will be contacting all the local airfield operators with a view to reminding them of our presence and our increased frequency of operations, but I want to remind all club members that we cannot rely on the good airmanship of others, and that a very thorough lookout all round the horizon, as well as up the approach and above the winch, is an absolute must before commencing a launch. If you cannot see behind the launch control vehicle, get someone else to look round the back of it - the penalty for not doing so could be a multiple fatality. Similarly, if you spot a glider low down in the circuit, do not allow a launch to begin because it may remove the last good choice of landing area for the pilot, or worse still it could result in a cable dropping onto the glider.
We seem to have adjusted quite well to the new shape of the runway, but there are still some lazy people who seem unwilling to add twenty paces to their journey between the clubhouse and the launch point in order to cross the runway in the least time and with the best lookout to left and right, i.e. approximately at right angles to the centreline. Could instructors in particular please set a good example and encourage others to do the same?
The new triangle of grass at the north of the eastern end, just west of the visitors' car park, is still not being used by experienced pilots who should be able to use it. This has been complicated slightly by a complaint, from the bungalow just to the south of the centreline on the other side of the road, about gliders overflying the property. This is, partially at least, a justified complaint, and to be neighbourly we must try to avoid it unless safety dictates otherwise. Indeed, there is never any reason to fly low over another property. Therefore please approach onto runway 27 either parallel with the centreline or from over the tall trees to the south east of the winch hangar, not at a slight angle to the centreline and directly over the bungalow. For straight approaches it is acceptable to land near the clubhouse and then to very gently taxi to the right into the new triangle, which involves about a 25 degree change of direction on the ground. If you feel you are unable to do this safely then please ask for some training. The new grass is quite smooth, and the run is long enough to stop before the crop if you do not approach with excessive speed and do not land long. If you are unable to approach at a controlled speed then also please ask for some further training. However, please also aim to give the perimeter track good clearance - it is a public right of way and if you land on it the lumps can do serious damage to the glider, e.g. the tail wheel, tail skid, or even the whole rudder assembly. Such damage may not even become obvious until the next flight, at which point it may become disastrously so.
Since my last safety briefing we thankfully have had very few incidents which have demanded action, but I again want to stress the danger from cables. One car was very nearly damaged by a cable breaking near the winch and flailing about 20 metres behind the winch itself, clearly demonstrating the insanity of standing anywhere near the winch during a launch. Also, launch marshals and pilots themselves must be insistent about the second cable being dragged sideways well out of their way if they are launching on the first. Wing runners are at significant risk to their lives if they step anywhere near the second parachute whilst running a wing, and must always walk away from the second cable immediately after running the wing for the glider on the first cable.
We have also had a couple of incidents of the tractor or Landrover being driven off with a towing arm out. Worse still, should the cable have been connected the results are unthinkable. Readers of the BGA accident reports, which should be all of you, will recall the recent incident at another club where this very nearly caused the decapitation of both pilots of a two seater, and the attached cable knocked over many bystanders and damaged aircraft. Cable retrieve drivers must ensure that they are OK to proceed, and set off slowly just in case.
It is nice to see so many new charts being ordered on a regular annual basis now, and for those who have not already seen it please be aware of the new Clacton CTA, which is near us and potentially affects us.
Have a safe season, and if you have any safety concerns at all please let me know.
Safety Briefing 1
Safety Briefing 2
Safety Briefing 3
Safety Briefing 4
Safety Briefing 5
Safety Briefing 6
Safety Briefing 7
Safety Briefing 8
Safety Briefing 10