Re: When your Life is Endangered

From: Zvi
Activity_Date: 11-27-01
Remote Name: 172.182.0.191

Comments

Kent. I fly with Dan regularly. In our local flying cirlce, Dan is known as a *safe*, competent and alert pilot. I have flown with Dan in active mountain conditions many times, incl. some decent XC flights and I know one thing - Dan would never endanger other pilots on purpose. I am 100% sure of that.

As for the incident, I undestand that your approach trajectory was for the most part along your blind areas so you really did not see each other until it was too late.

Your flight paths were somewhat converging rather than head-on. I believe this spared you both from a far more dismal outcome.

I was not there but I can guess that you had very little time to react from the time you realized the inevitable.

In those critical seconds, besides being surprised and possibly overwhelmed, you may have also chose not to communicate while trying to sort it out independently (save face).

When *both* pilots are aware of an impending collision, effectively the reaction time is doubled. The point being... if it's close... don't just keep it to yourself. Let the other pilot know as soon as possible.

Rather than just shouting "watch out", it may be helpful if the pilot that spots the other first takes command and shouts what action to take:

"go left"... "go right" ... "go straight" or if closely above the other pilot ... "pull big ears"

The lower pilot, ... should consider pulling big ears immediately to create vertical separation and maneuvering room. The top pilot... should consider reducing speed to pull up and away.

This of course would only work prior to entanglement and if the gliders' speed and ground clearance allow.

There's no better sight than hindsight. I am just sharing my 2 pennies. It's always easier to give advice from the ground.

Fly safe,

Zvi (zvieshel@hotmail.com)