Safety Notices

Categories: Aerodrome safety, Airline operations, Airline safety, Airspace alerts, Balloons, Drones, Gliders, Microlights, Offshore helicopters, Private pilot aeroplane, Private pilot helicopterNotification of jamming trial impacting GNSS (GPS) 22 – 31 March 2021

Jamming activity will take place between the 22 and 31 March 2021

Jamming equipment will be located within a 250m radius of 520828N 0043415W. 

Activity may affect GNSS equipment within a range of distances as specified in the associated AIP Briefing Note. 

During the trials impacted systems may suffer intermittent or total failure.  An associated NOTAM has been raised.

For further information or feedback on this activity contact ABERANGECON@qinetiq.com

Emergency cease jamming contact: 01239 81 3480

SW2021/058

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Class D, F and G VMC requirements

Through the Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2021, on 20 May 2021 the UK will implement an amendment to SERA.5001 Table S5-1 that modifies the VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima in airspace Classes D, F and G.  From 20 May 2021, pilots will be deemed to have complied with the requirements of SERA.5001 when operating at or below 3,000 ft AMSL, or 1,000 ft above terrain, whichever is the higher, if they are flying:

Within Class D airspace:
a) During day only;
b) Indicated airspeed of 140 kts or less;
c) Remains clear of cloud with the surface in sight and;
(i) For aircraft other than helicopters, with a flight visibility of at least 5 km;
(ii)For helicopters, with a flight visibility of at least 1,500 m.

Within Class F and G airspace:
a) During day only;
b) Indicated airspeed of 140 kts or less;
c) For all aircraft, with a flight visibility of at least 1,500 m.

In the eyes of a desperate and rusty pilot Saturday’s forecast could look epic. However, the various forecast models are not in agreement regarding how little, or rather how much, wind there will be. Some forecasts are currently showing winds strong enough to blow gliders back at 1500’ and of perhaps 13-15 knots in the landing field. This is double what we like to see. Notwithstanding the underlying wind we are also expecting thermal strengths of perhaps 3m/s at low level with very little reduction in strength until evening. If it is too windy don't push your luck - The hill will still be there tomorrow! Remember, if you break yourself, you'll miss much more flying than just one day’s gale hanging...

Remember that red ribbon pilots are not permitted to slope land at Devils Dyke unless under direct supervision.

It has been notable how close together everyone has been flying on the few occasions that it has been possible to fly at all. Please do try to give each other more room. Also telegraph your next move as clearly as possible. I'm not saying give hand signals, though not a bad idea, just make it obvious where you are planning to go and try not to make erratic course changes when others are close.

Once again, a number of pilots have 350'd into the hill, or very nearly so, recently. Fortunately they had all very nearly completed their turn and so got away with little more than a surprise stop. I would hazard that in most cases this was not caused by inexperience, but by rustiness and desperation to fly. Do take extra care flying at rising ground and remember that your skills will have atrophied considerably given the lack of flying this last year.

In stronger winds it is particularly important that, when top landing, you get your glider pointing into wind, even if you have already landed. With a paraglider it is never too late to be able to turn into wind, just too late to choose to do so. This will slow your progress across the ground significantly and may save you having to explain yourself to an irate pilot who's laid out wing you just trashed.

In that regard, please do not carpet the top landing area with gliders. Rig and launch or, if you intend to wait, mushroom your kit. It is less likely to blow away and less likely to be landed on. Not to mention that it gets less UV exposure.

In the same vein, don't attempt to land anywhere near rigged hang gliders. The current batch cost into five figures and your insurer would not be keen to reimburse you.

Mind the ice cream van and the inevitable hordes of the great unwashed!

No CP with less than 10 hrs flying time may slope land on any SHGC site. Bottom land and walk or, in more normal times, hitch a lift back up.

Rules Of The Air

1 - Avoid a collision at all costs.
It is your responsibility to avoid collision. Accusation and counter accusation about how two or more aircraft collided ignores the basic rule that each of us must take action to avoid collision. If the air is too crowded do not take off. If an aircraft is being flown erratically, give it a wide berth and talk to the pilot on the ground later.

2 - Gliders converging. The glider on the right has priority.

3 - Overtaking. Overtaking aircraft keeps clear.

4 - Landing. A lower aircraft has right of way if they are landing..

5 - Thermalling. Circle only to the right below 1000ft ATO on all SHGC sites.

6 - Gliders approaching head-on. Break right to avoid collision.

How to protect our sites:

Always park your car in an agreed area.
Don’t park on grass verges or in such a way as to cause an obstruction to other users.
Shut and lock the caburn gate as soon as you've been through.
Pick up all litter, whoever dropped it.
Keep quiet, unless notifying a pilot of an emergency situation.
Use only recognised gates and paths. Don’t climb over gates, do not take a short cut over any fences.