Operating in an East Wind

Operating at Shalbourne in an East Wind

Risk

    - dropping a cable across the road = moderate (based on previous history),
    - killing or injuring someone as a result of the above = low

Consequences of a reported incident – closure of site. Consequences of worst case – bankruptcy of Club and or individual, or worse.

Shalbourne instructors are, perforce, expert in operating in crosswinds. Precautions to guard against launch cable excursions include:

 1.  Strategic positioning of winch.
 2.  Use of ‘non-flying’ drogue chutes.
 3.  Pilot ‘laying off’ for drift.
 4.  Winch driver ‘chopping’ ‘non-laid off’ launch.

Items 3 and 4 are unreliable as they depend upon consistent practice of expertise and judgement by all parties. Experience shows that even experienced pilots and winch drivers often fail to comply with such instructions. Even when instructions are complied with, there is a risk of a winch-end cable break at the top of the launch where the ‘chute’ drifts out of control.

Recommendation:

 1.  If, taking into account all of the factors above, the instructor i/c considers that there is any risk of dropping a cable over the road. Then launching should cease.
 2.  Should a cable be dropped across the road, vehicles should be sent immediately to warn road users on either side of the cable, until such time that the obstruction is made safe.

CB 28/3/2008