Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:18 am
#1619892
That really is a Daily Mail headline - terrifying!
Long before EC came along the powered and gliding communities have flown on days like the 21 Jun 18, with probably more gliders and powered aircraft than we see today. We haven’t been clonking into each other on a regular basis because see and avoid is 99% effective (Results of a DRA trial in 1997 called “See-and-avoid operational analysis study”). So I wouldn’t call it “terrifying” and with a little bit of knowledge you can help yourself.
1. The 21 Jun 18 was predicted well ahead to be an exceptional gliding day with ‘cloud streets’ expected and it being the longest day, a long period of thermal activity.
2. There were many NOTAMs from responsible gliding clubs stating that they had cross-country gliding planned.
3. A quick glance at the Open Glider Network (OGN) tells you it was going to be busy.
So staying lower than normal and away from the lift that the cloud streets are providing will keep you away from a lot of the glider traffic. The hardest to spot glider is the one that is belting along at 90kts at height in a straight line under a cloud street, if they are scratching around for lift or thermalling then they are far easier to see as the turn.
Don’t forget that OGN only broadcasts the gliders that are carrying FLARM and that are in range of an OGN ground station. So there will be gliders not electronically visible on OGN and the rebroadcast feature on Pilot Aware. So keep looking out.
Long before EC came along the powered and gliding communities have flown on days like the 21 Jun 18, with probably more gliders and powered aircraft than we see today. We haven’t been clonking into each other on a regular basis because see and avoid is 99% effective (Results of a DRA trial in 1997 called “See-and-avoid operational analysis study”). So I wouldn’t call it “terrifying” and with a little bit of knowledge you can help yourself.
1. The 21 Jun 18 was predicted well ahead to be an exceptional gliding day with ‘cloud streets’ expected and it being the longest day, a long period of thermal activity.
2. There were many NOTAMs from responsible gliding clubs stating that they had cross-country gliding planned.
3. A quick glance at the Open Glider Network (OGN) tells you it was going to be busy.
So staying lower than normal and away from the lift that the cloud streets are providing will keep you away from a lot of the glider traffic. The hardest to spot glider is the one that is belting along at 90kts at height in a straight line under a cloud street, if they are scratching around for lift or thermalling then they are far easier to see as the turn.
Don’t forget that OGN only broadcasts the gliders that are carrying FLARM and that are in range of an OGN ground station. So there will be gliders not electronically visible on OGN and the rebroadcast feature on Pilot Aware. So keep looking out.
Ian Melville liked this