Safety News

Glider Cockpit Safety 13th May 2009 UPDATED 9th February 2010

In some glider types it is possible for a pilot to slide backwards and upwards on the launch under certain circumstances, for example a rapidly accelerating winch launch. When this happens, the control column may be pulled back, with an inevitable stall/spin potential. In the past there has been a serious incident due to this cause. Gliders with purpose designed seat backs tend not to be affected. It is suggested that, where sliding backwards could be an issue, an anti slip surface and/or solid cushions are used behind the pilot and the seat harness is especially tight before the glider is launched. There is a view that small pilots are particularly at risk.

UPDATE: It was hoped that a technical solution could be developed for this problem. This has proved impractical.

Military & Civil Air Safety Day 14th December 2009

The first MCASD of 2010 will be held at RAF Lyneham on Wednesday 19th May 2010. The aim is to promote closer ties between General Aviation Pilots and MoD Aviation, focussing on the shared use of lower airspace. There will be a series of presentations covering local airspace issues and a light lunch will be provided. Places are limited, particularly the fly-in slots, so early registration via the CAA web site is advisable.

New Post-Accident Guide 27th November 2009

We have published an updated Post-Accident Guide, available in both PDF and MS-Word format.   The new guide combines the former Post-Accident Guide and Accident Investigation Handbook into a single Post-Accident Guide.  The sections offering guidance for handling the immediate aftermath of an accident have been revised. You are reminded of the need to report every accident, without exception.  Incidents should also be reported when there are important lessons to be learned from them. Note that when incidents are reported in S&G, unlike accidents, the site is not identified.

Please destroy any old copies of the guide that you may have at your club in printed or softcopy form and replace them with the new one.  But before doing that remember to copy any local information such as phone numbers from your old guide into the new one.

Some clubs are using very old versions of the BGA accident form.  Please destroy any copies of these forms you may have.  The version to use is the electronic one which was published on this website in 2006. If you are unable to use the electronic form please use the printable form.

Energy Absorbing Foam 23rd November 2009

BGA Laws and Rules recommends that all gliders should be equipped with cushions containing energy absorbent materials. These can provide significant protection in the case of a heavy landing or a crash. Until now, Dynafoam has been the most commonly used material for this purpose. Tests have shown that Confor C45/C47 is also a suitable material and that it can provide improved comfort in use.  It is planned that Sailplane and Gliding will contain an article about Confor in a future edition.  There are also technical articles about the testing of Confor in the April 2009 edition of Technical Soaring and in the June 2009 edition of the Journal of Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine – see here for an abstract.

Safety Flash - Tug Upsets 10th November 2009

A BGA Safety Flash has been published regarding tug upsets. It can be viewed here.

See and Avoid 19th August 2009

Recent events have reinforced the importance of keeping a good look-out.  The CAA has published a Flight Operations Communication (FODCOM) about this . This also makes reference to a Safety Sense leaflet, written specifically for GA pilots.  This is recommended reading.

MCASD 12th August 2009

The second Military Civil Air Safety Day (MCASD) of 2009 will take place at RAF Leeming on Wednesday 9th September 2009. The aim is to promote closer ties between General Aviation Pilots and MoD Aviation. Full details and an application form are on the MOD web site.

Supporting Effective Lookout  4th August 2009

Following an operational FLARM trial at the Scottish Gliding Centre in 2007, the trial report included a recommendation that ‘the British Gliding Association consider whether it should encourage the voluntary uptake of FLARM compatible technology in the UK gliding fleet over the next two to three years’. The BGA position at that time was that it supported efforts that will develop potential users' understanding of all the operational implications of FLARM use.  During 2009 and following a period of careful consideration and reflection, the BGA Operations Group, comprising of the chairmen of the safety, flying operations, instructing, airspace, technical and licensing sub-committees and working groups agreed the following revised BGA position:

“Effective lookout is vitally important at all times. The BGA considers that the widespread adoption of mutually compatible and low cost proximity/collision awareness technology in support of effective lookout can be beneficial to the gliding community. Owners who choose to equip with such technology should consider, among other installation and operational issues, compatibility with existing systems. These currently include FLARM, used primarily within air sport, and devices capable of detecting transponders employed elsewhere in aviation.”

Note - BGA accident statistics demonstrate that there is a higher risk of a midair collision in the circuit, in thermals and when hill/mountain soaring than in any other phases of flight. Effective lookout is vital at all times.

Correct Use of PLBs 22nd July 2009

Following a helicopter accident in the North Sea where deployment and operation of Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs)/ Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) was required, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) made a recommendation to the CAA regarding the training by operators in the use of the equipment. Given the increased voluntary carriage of these devices by glider pilots, the BGA recommends that users take note of the resulting advice which is contained in CAA FODCOM 22/2009.

RAF Air Experience Flights 24th June 2009

A draft Aeronautical Information Circular has been issued which describes the operating procedures of RAF AEFs and details the locations and operating days of such flights.  Contact telephone numbers and VHF frequencies are also provided should any pilot wish to obtain more information.  The draft AIC is on the AIS web site.

Parachute Drop Zones 18th June 2009

We are aware of two infringements of parachute drop zones during the week-end of 13/14 June.  A drop was in progress during one of the infringements.  It does not take much imagination to understand the potential consequences of these actions.  All parachute DZs should be treated as active at all times and avoided unless positive contact and entry agreement has been made on the designated DZ frequency. The only exception is where the glider pilot has been locally briefed and is flying under local agreement between co-located parachute and gliding club operations.  You will NOT see a free-fall parachutist in time to take avoiding action.  A list of all BPA clubs and their telephone and RF details is available om the BPA web site.

RSOs - Lincolnshire & Eastern Counties 31st March 2009

The BGA is seeking volunteers to act as Regional Safety Officers (RSOs), covering clubs in the Lincolnshire & Eastern Counties areas. The areas can be split if desired, or if more than one person from each area volunteers.  Ideally candidates will be experienced glider pilots with good communication skills who are capable of liaising with club chairmen and CFIs. Training will be provided if required and the BGA will reimburse expenses incurred in the course of RSO duties. To apply, please email a resume of your experience to John Hull or fax 01264 773980.

Safety Flash - Ballast Weights 30th March 2009

A BGA Safety Flash has been published regarding use of moveable ballast weights and can be viewed here.

Safe Winch Launching 24th March 2009

The BGA Safe Winch Launching Initiative has been running since October 2005. The first three years have seen a marked reduction in the number of serious winch launch accidents. The challenge now is to consolidate the lower accident rate achieved in 2006-8 and to reduce that rate even further. As part of this effort, the BGA has launched a new communications package on how to winch launch safely. This package includes a new Safe Winch Launching guide, an interactive quiz and simulations of winch launch accidents. All pilots - no matter how experienced - are urged to read and digest the information. All club CFIs have been sent the information so, if you are unsure about anything, please ask an instructor. All the new information is available on the BGA Safe Winch Launching page.

2008 Accident Review 17th March 2009

The review of 2008 gliding accidents has been published and can be downloaded here. By being aware of the nature and causes of the most common accidents, individual pilots may be able to anticipate the possibility of these accidents and avoid them. The accident review document offers advice in the hope that lessons can be learned from past accidents and that future accident levels can be reduced. This is recommended reading for all glider pilots.

Club Safety Review Document  5th March 2009

The new Club Safety Review check-list has been published. This replaces the previous Club Safety Review Aide Memoire, dated 24/10/2001. The corresponding RSO Safety Review document (RSO use only) has also been published.

Safety Recommendation  18th September 2008

Following the publication of a report into a fatal accident in New Zealand, the UK AAIB has asked that we draw UK pilots’ attention to the recommendation made by the NZ CAA. The recommendation is in the accident report, available at on the NZ CAA web site.

Distress and Diversion Telephone Details 27th March 2008

Following the relocation of the London Distress and Diversion cell to Swanwick, the previously published telephone number is no longer valid, although it is expected that an answering machine will give details of the new number.  The new telephone number to pass information such as an overdue aircraft to the Distress and Diversion cell is now 01489 612406. The service available on the VHF emergency frequency 121.5MHz remains unchanged. (The D&D Cell has requested that pilots let them know if they have landed out and had to leave the glider in the field overnight or if, for any reason, they believe that the landout has caused or is likely to cause alarm. In these events, please call  the D&D Cell, letting them know the location and confirming that there are no casualties.

SGU FLARM Report 29th December 2007

The Scottish Gliding Union has published a report of its trial of FLARM, which took place between February and October of this year. As many BGA members will be interested in the findings from the Portmoak trial, the report has been made available here. The BGA's position is to support efforts that will develop potential users' understanding of all the operational implications of FLARM use.

ELT/PLB Guidance 12th November 2007

Guidance about the use of Emergency Locator Transmitters and Personal Locator Beacons is now available on the BGA web site. The guidance material is offered to assist glider pilots in making their own decision about the use of locator beacons and emergency locator
transmitters that are available in the general aviation market.

Safe Winch Launching 25th April 2007

The BGA Safety Initiative team has produced an updated version of the Safe Winch Launching leaflet.  This incorporates minor, but important revisions to the advice previously published and we urge all pilots to read this latest edition.  Copies have been sent to all clubs and an electronic version is available here. If any pilot is unsure about any of the advice, please seek further guidance from an instructor. Additional information for instructors is also available as is a set of guidance notes.

Rigging & DI 8th June 2006

The BGA has recently received several incident reports which relate to very worrying instances of mis-rigging.  Very fortunately, none of these resulted in injury or damage (hence the term incident), but the consequences could so easily have been tragic.  Question – what is an incident?  Answer – an accident waiting to happen!  Please take the greatest care and concentrate 100% when rigging and DI’ing your glider – your life and those of your syndicate partners depends on it.  More details are here.

K-13 Impact Test 9th March 2006

Tony Segal's report on his K-13 impact tests with nosewheels and skids can be found here. The full report can be found in the August-September 2005 issue of Sailplane & Gliding.

Regional Safety Officer - Allocation of Clubs 8th March 2006

The BGA has appointed a team of volunteer Regional Safety Officers (RSO's) whose function is to assist clubs in their regions. The role of the RSO is to help clubs with safety policies and issues; review club safety check lists; and to conduct club visits to assist in identifying areas and practices which might be improved. They will also advise, if requested, on how to complete accident reports after the initial notification, and can help to decide upon any club actions which may be needed following analysis of incidents and accidents. For initial contact with your RSO, please go via the BGA office who will forward your enquiry, unless the RSO has already given you their contact details to enable you to approach them directly. A full list showing how clubs have been allocated amongst the RSOs is available here.

Safety Officer Seminar 3rd March 2006

A training seminar for club safety officers will be held at Burn GC, near Selby, at 10am on Sunday 19 March. All club safety officers are welcome, but should pre-register with Chris Nicholas. The purpose of the seminar is to help Safety Officers to be more effective and to learn from the experience of others. There is no charge for attendance.

Accident Forms 13th February 2006

The accident forms have been updated and there are now two versions. One is for printing and filling out manually, and the other can be filled out in Microsoft Word and emailed. Download the new forms from the Safety Forms page.

BGA Flight Safety Presentations 2006 9th January 2006  

Although February and March are fully booked, there are still opportunities for BGA clubs to book the BGA Flight Safety Presentation during April. The bookings are made on a first come, first served basis. Any club that is interested in hosting one of these excellent presentations during April should contact the BGA Office Manager at debbie@gliding.co.uk or call 0116 2531051.

Safe Winch Launching 3rd November 2005 (updated 7th November)

The BGA's Safety Initiative Team has produced a leaflet which summarises the main lessons learned from their study into winch launch accidents. If we all follow the advice in the leaflet and accompanying letter, and winch launch in accordance with the BGA's recommended practices, in time there should be a dramatic reduction in the number of winch launch accidents. Bulk copies of the leaflet will be distributed to clubs and can be downloaded now together with the accompanying letter. If you are unsure about any of the advice, please seek further guidance from an instructor.

Distress & Diversion Cell Request 22nd July 2005 (tel no updated 27 March 2008)

The D&D Cell has requested that we ask all pilots to let them know if they have landed out and had to leave the glider in the field overnight or if, for any reason, they believe that the landout has caused or is likely to cause alarm. In these events, you should call the D&D Cell on 01489 612406, letting them know the location and confirming that there are no casualties. The request follows an incident where a glider was left on a hillside in Wales recently to allow the owner to organize a particularly tricky retrieve. As a result, a helicopter was scrambled in poor weather to check for survivors at a reported glider 'crash site'

Overstrength Parachute Tell Tales 12th May 2005

We have been informed of a problem that has been discovered with parachutes repacked at Filton. It is possible that some parachutes may have an over-strength tell-tale thread securing the ripcord end-pin. The result is that the chute ripcord may require a much stronger pull (>30lbs force) to deploy instead of the normal 3-5lbs-force. To determine if your parachute is affected, open the ripcord cover flap to expose the tell-tale thread. The over-strength thread is WHITE rather than the usual RED. As a short-term measure, the tell-tale thread may be removed, but please be aware of the need to be especially careful to avoid accidental pulling of the rip-cord. Also, all chutes should be checked before use to ensure that the ripcord end-pin is properly seated. If required, the tell-tale thread will be replaced on request.

Accident Summaries Available Online 18th June 2004

We have collaborated with the AAIB to make in-depth summaries of BGA accident investigations available on the web. Summaries will be proivded for accidents rated as write-off/substantial airframe damage or fatal/serious injury plus some selected minor accidents and incidents considered to be of significant safety value to the gliding community. These summaries provide insights that we can all learn from. You can access this information via the Department for Transport web site - click here for link.

Low Height Spins 4th June 2004

The BGA Instructors Committee has recently agreed that all pilots and instructors should be reminded of the need to take note of a number of factors when considering the height at which spinning should be initiated. Some gliders have particular characteristics that can sometimes cause a delayed recovery and/or a significant height loss in the recovery phase. The potential, significant height loss should be carefully taken into consideration when deciding when it is safe to initiate a spin. The glider type flight manual is a vital source of information. The recommendation in the BGA Instructors Manual, page 19-3, to initiate a 'brief' spin at 800 feet during pilot training will be removed by appropriate amendment action in due course. You are urged to bring this note the attention of your club pilot and instructor colleagues. Where required, CFI's can seek advice from Simon Adlard, the BGA National Coach on 07773 017270.

Change in Alcohol Regulations. 12th May 2004

Even the most moderate drinker should be aware that the new Railways & Transport Safety Act makes it an offence for pilots, including glider pilots, to fly while over the prescribed limit for alcohol. The new regulations could also be interpreted as being applicable, in the event of an accident, to anybody involved in flying operations - winch driver, wing tip holder, etc. The limit is (breath) 9µg/100ml or (blood) 20mg/100ml. Note that this is a quarter of the equivalent drink/drive limits and is, effectively, a zero tolerance limit. A law has existed for many years that pilots may not fly whilst impaired through drink or drugs. This change to the law quantifies alcohol limits and provides a statutory testing regime. The full text of the act is available at http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2000/20001562.htm . A CAA Flight Operations Department Communication, which explains things in a less legal form, can be read at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/FOD200328.pdf . The BGA recommends that pilots and those involved in gliding acquaint themselves with this documentation.

Winch Launching 1st November 2003

This document concerning winch launch safety was circulated at the chairman's conference on 1st November. You can read it by clicking here.

NewsLetters

Gliding Safety is the official safety communication of the BGA. It is a bi-monthly insert with Sailplane & Gliding and is sponsored by Cox Aviation Insurance, TL Clowes Insurance and Hill Aviation Insurance Services in order to reduce accidents and injuries in the sport. Grapevine is the safety bulletin of the RAFGSA. The aim of these newsletters is not to apportion blame, but to help prevent accidents.