Flying with aeromodels

Dear Pilots.

A recent busy ridge soaring day at Firle has highlighted the fact that many people have forgotten (or never learned) about the hazards of flying with model aircraft and how to avoid them. Aeromodels are a regular sight on our busy slopes and most of the model pilots are skilled and responsible airmen. They should be insured members of a model association and follow a well developed code of practice. For us glider pilots they can be an asset as local metrologists and wind dummies.

The danger of collision is quite obvious and very real. In the past there have been several collisions on our sites, including a fatality where an impact with a hang glider caused a complete structural failure, at a height too low for a parachute to save the pilot.

It should be bourne in mind that when flying a model the pilot will be fixedly staring at his aircraft. This tunnel vision effect means that by the time he has become aware of a hang glider or paraglider entering his narrow field of vision, he has very little time to plan and execute avoiding action. For this reason we have agreed that when a glider pilot is approaching an area where models are flying he should make his approach known by shouting a friendly warning along the lines of “Hello! Paraglider coming through!” Thus the model aircraft pilot has much more time to assess the situation and take safe action. Clearly we should pass the area of intense model activity quickly and directly.

It is worth noting that the pilot of a model has very poor depth perception, making it very hard to judge if his machine will pass in front of, or behind another craft. Or hit it. When another aircraft is nearby the model pilot should always manoeuvre to ensure “visual separation”. i.e. that the two craft will always be separate up and down, or left and right but never occupy the same point in his vision.

This and other important safety information is included in the SHGC sites guide.

Happy flying,

Dave Lewis, SHGC Sites Officer.