Oz Report
Volume 16, Number 257Tuesday, December 25 2012
Cathedral Palms RV Resort, Cathedral City, near Palm Springs, California, USA
https://OzReport.com
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
The 2013 King Mountain Championships
Mon, Dec 24 2012, 7:36:06 am PSTUSHPA
http://www.flykingmountain.com/
http://www.kingmountaingliderpark.com/
http://ozreport.com/uscompetitiondates.php
1 topic in this article: USHPA
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Aspect ratio and paraglider safety
Mon, Dec 24 2012, 7:37:14 am PSTCIVL|PG|World Pilot Ranking Scheme
http://paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=52538&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=126
From Tom Payne:
At the Brits a couple of years ago we had a terrible day with 5 reserves deployed on one task (10 during the week) and a bunch of crashes. I think Adrian forgot about that comp, it was memorable for me as I was one of the 5.
Indeed. At the time it was exceptional, and that day prompted a lot of reflection.
There were also five reserve deployments in the single task of the PWC in Annecy this year, leading to three hospitalizations.
There was at least one day at the Europeans where there were three reserve deployments.
Now multiple reserve deployments per day seems to be considered normal. I'm not sure that this is a good thing.
Adrian Thomas writes:
So we absolutely know that going to two reserves will not have a significant effect on paragliding safety.
We also know that changing to certified gliders had no significant effect on paragliding safety.
So we know that adding rules about equipment is not the way to go if we seriously want to improve pilot safety.
We even know where the problem is - it's pilot error. You don't deal with that by adding rules about equipment. You deal with it by education. Improving pilot training.
Tom Payne writes:
Three years of changing wings has not changed the accident rate. I am utterly unable to comprehend the reasoning that leads the PMA and CIVL to believe that changing wings for a fourth time will be different.
Adrian Thomas writes:
Yes, and setting the WPRS qualification requirement high enough could have prevented the accidents in Piedrahita and St. Andre. It is unlikely to be voted in though, as many more countries would then not have any competitors qualified for Cat1 events. Clear direct conflict between safety and national-interest.
http://paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=51009&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=435
Adrian Thomas writes:
The link between Aspect ratio and safety is very tenuous. Collapse a high aspect glider and you have a low aspect glider. High aspect gliders have short chord which is a huge safety advantage for 2 line gliders (better structure, reduced deep stall issues). High aspect (large span) gliders do not wind in to spirals as badly as low aspect (short span) gliders. The only real downside is that high aspect ratio gliders are more cravat prone than low aspect gliders if the line plan is kept the same (more gaps between the lines).
3 topics in this article: CIVL, PG, World Pilot Ranking Scheme
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