SAFA Skysailor Magazine

30 SKY SAILOR March | April 2021 the case if flying a new wing. Flying fully accelerated into an area that may be rotored should be avoided under any circumstance, but especially so on unfamiliar equipment. Now back to the Northern Beaches of Sydney. The pilot in AIRS #1175 was flying a paraglider along the cliff line of Cook’s Terrace when a construction worker at a building site on Narrabeen Park Parade hurled a rock over the cliff at him. PIC discussed this with another pilot on landing and learned that the other pilot had also been the subject of aggressive behaviour from personnel at this site. PIC contacted Safe Work NSW who have launched an investigation into the matter, but no further details are available. No pilot should be subject to such behaviour while enjoying our sport and not impacting others. In all cases if such behaviour occurs, local Police should be contacted. Back down to Stanwell. In AIRS #1182, a visiting PG pilot suffered a wing collapse on approach to the Chute LZ. The wind in the LZ was NE and a standard approach for a southerly oriented wind was followed. The pilot impacted the ground resulting in a minor compression fracture of the T12 vertebra. All pilots visiting a new site should seek a site briefing and local knowledge, in all circumstances and at any time, even if the visiting pilot considers themselves to be burdensome in doing so. All pilots are visiting pilots somewhere. The PIC did obtain a site briefing the previous day, but the wind direction was from the SE and the pilot failed to update that briefing to take account of the different wind direction, i.e. E to NE. In this case, a NE wind will cause rotor off the headland and terrace immediately to the north of the approach into the Chute LZ. The correct approach in this case is to come up the beach from the S, landing on the beach at the seaward end of the lagoon, or in the Chute itself. AIRS #1232 involves an airprox. A pilot at Bald Hill (Stanwell Park) had launched on a Gin Bonanza. While launching, a red Robinson helicopter made a pass at launch level with approximately 300m separation from the hill. The PG pilot turned right and was heading to the beach abeam of the Point when the helicopter made another pass to the south at the same altitude as the PG pilot. Separation from the hill was approximately 200m and less than 100m from the PG pilot. The helicopter continued SW towards the escarpment. This site frequently sees civilian and military aircraft flying in close proximity to the launch and similar events are not unknown. See and be seen as an avoidance measure has its limitations and pilots should consider adoption and carriage of VHF radio to further aid their conspicuity and situational awareness. At the very least, at busy sites a duty pilot with an airband VHF radio is advised. This incident was reported to the ATSB . Back to the Northern Beaches and Warriewood for AIRS #1252. PIC was top landing after having flown for over 30 minutes on their second flight. The wind had increased suddenly to approximately 15kt, and on landing the pilot used brakes rather than B-lines to collapse the wing. PIC was dragged slightly and the wing draped over a vehicle that had commenced reversing. One line snagged on a AIRS Safety Wrap-up Sand Patch, Albany, WA Photo: Peter Kovesi