Of course you read the NOTAMS.....
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Of course you read the NOTAMS.....
So the reason the screen of the ATC at Oxford looked like the Milky Way, so many gliders.....is that there are from now on a LOT of Gliding Competitions. Two are underway this week from LASHAM.
The comp will be NOTAMED. If it might concern you, contact the organisers to find what task has been set. A list of comps is on the British Gliding Association website.
Of course if it is a good soaring day, gliders may be encountered ANYWHERE!
usually under a good cumulus, going in circles, or streaking on to the next likely climb. A comp task will not be set in weather that is not soarable. (Obviously).
Soaring weather is bumpy. So fly above the cu if you can, to get a smooth ride and avoid the gliders.
The comp will be NOTAMED. If it might concern you, contact the organisers to find what task has been set. A list of comps is on the British Gliding Association website.
Of course if it is a good soaring day, gliders may be encountered ANYWHERE!
usually under a good cumulus, going in circles, or streaking on to the next likely climb. A comp task will not be set in weather that is not soarable. (Obviously).
Soaring weather is bumpy. So fly above the cu if you can, to get a smooth ride and avoid the gliders.
Thanks but perhaps a rider:
Presumably it's merely advisory as in open airspace GA is free to cross or fly in it at any height or manner it fancies even if gliders are there, as one more a/c floating through should be neither here nor there !
Or does it mean glider pilots are welcome to crowd together in safety but GA is being warned off - or what ?
Always sounds a bit like being black-balled from a posh club when one sector of the aviation community appears to go beyond merely informing others of their activity & suggests they should have exclusive airspace rights.
mike hallam.
Presumably it's merely advisory as in open airspace GA is free to cross or fly in it at any height or manner it fancies even if gliders are there, as one more a/c floating through should be neither here nor there !
Or does it mean glider pilots are welcome to crowd together in safety but GA is being warned off - or what ?
Always sounds a bit like being black-balled from a posh club when one sector of the aviation community appears to go beyond merely informing others of their activity & suggests they should have exclusive airspace rights.
mike hallam.
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mikehallam,
I take your point (sort of), and I'm a powered flyer myself. But bear in mind powered ac have to give way to gliders, so they do have right of way...
Anyway I'm sure Mary is just trying to avoid collisions. Remember there was a fatal midair just south of Oxford only a couple of years ago, RAF Tutor vs glider.
Tim
I take your point (sort of), and I'm a powered flyer myself. But bear in mind powered ac have to give way to gliders, so they do have right of way...
Anyway I'm sure Mary is just trying to avoid collisions. Remember there was a fatal midair just south of Oxford only a couple of years ago, RAF Tutor vs glider.
Tim
As I read it, Mary was simply giving us a reminder that gliding season is upon us and we can easily find out where the areas of highest activity will be by checking the NOTAMs! Everyone has the right to use the airspace, but I know that given the choice, I'd rather steer clear or at least be forewarned.
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NOTAMS are the way to go because the BGA webpage link mentioned in the NOTAM does not lead directly to the competitions list!
I found it took me a while to find the list Mary Meagher refers to.
Seeing as the NOTAM expects pilots to go there, imho the BGA could have made efforts to make it more user friendly. A direct link to the list would have been useful, rather than trawling the site to find it!
I found it took me a while to find the list Mary Meagher refers to.
Seeing as the NOTAM expects pilots to go there, imho the BGA could have made efforts to make it more user friendly. A direct link to the list would have been useful, rather than trawling the site to find it!
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Remember the Grob/glider midair near Didcot in 2010?
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...d%20G-CKHT.pdf
Scroll down to the diagram showing traffic through the Abingdon/Didcot airspace "pinch point"
Glider competitions can prduce similar traffic densities in other parts of the country so being aware of them can be useful
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...d%20G-CKHT.pdf
Scroll down to the diagram showing traffic through the Abingdon/Didcot airspace "pinch point"
Glider competitions can prduce similar traffic densities in other parts of the country so being aware of them can be useful
Thank you Mary.
Yes, I read the Notams
And look at the forecast.
I used to fly a tug from Lasham.
I used to instruct from Lasham. In gliders.
I still instruct in gliders
And SEP.
I EXPECT to see gliders on a 500k day, competition or not.
IT WAS A JOKE
Now mod me again, but I did use stars........
Yes, I read the Notams
And look at the forecast.
I used to fly a tug from Lasham.
I used to instruct from Lasham. In gliders.
I still instruct in gliders
And SEP.
I EXPECT to see gliders on a 500k day, competition or not.
IT WAS A JOKE
Now mod me again, but I did use stars........
Last edited by Piper.Classique; 29th May 2013 at 03:46. Reason: Prior edit by mods
I would like to add to Mary's comments.
There will be NOTAMS published for all the BGA competitions. ( I know because I organize them). The NOTAM will give you a contact number to enable you to find out what the intended task is for the day. It will also point you to a link to Daily Tasks which should show the task on Google Earth graphically. We all l share the same airspace: let's keep it safe out there.
There will be NOTAMS published for all the BGA competitions. ( I know because I organize them). The NOTAM will give you a contact number to enable you to find out what the intended task is for the day. It will also point you to a link to Daily Tasks which should show the task on Google Earth graphically. We all l share the same airspace: let's keep it safe out there.
If you would like a to be added to a distribution list send an email to [email protected] and I will add you to the list for competition tasks set from Lasham for the remainder of the Current competition and future ones
Last edited by wrecker; 28th May 2013 at 20:38.
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Sorry to say this but in my opinion, gliders should be banned. They are extremely difficult to see due to their highly aerodynamic airframe and in the most part white paint. These two design features make them extremely hard to spot as contrasting is nearly impossible.
I don't know why but gliders stray from their ample roaming grounds also meaning they take you by surprise. Ban them.
I don't know why but gliders stray from their ample roaming grounds also meaning they take you by surprise. Ban them.
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... and cyclists too!!! 
I'm sure more fuel is wasted by drivers having to slow down and accelerate than is ever saved by the cyclist pedalling to work!?
KR
SITW
I'm sure more fuel is wasted by drivers having to slow down and accelerate than is ever saved by the cyclist pedalling to work!?
KR
SITW
Last edited by Tupperware Pilot; 29th May 2013 at 11:56.
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Well, I've just filed an MOR.
Why? Because the NOTAM states that pilots are to check
Daily Tasks
for details of today's flights; so I did so at 0800 local this morning, just before heading out to the airfield to fly down to Goodwood, and got the response 'No tasks found for today':
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
NB the time on the top says 1351 as that's the time I went back to get the screenshot. In fact, this was grossly misleading and I found myself flying over Lasham while they were launching >100 gliders. Thankfully a. Farnborough were better informed; b. I was at 4000ft in IMC, in and out of cloud, and the gliders were where they belonged, below the cloudbase, as we could see in the gaps.
A refresh of the screen at 1351 showed a .kml file which opens beautifully in Google Earth and would have been rather helpful if it had been there at 0800.
I think this website did more harm than good. If I'd not been to the website I'd have kept well clear as the NOTAM did state the competition was going on. However, because the website said there were no tasks today I assumed the wx forecast had caused today's competition to be postponed which made it more dangerous, not less.
Tim
Why? Because the NOTAM states that pilots are to check
Daily Tasks
for details of today's flights; so I did so at 0800 local this morning, just before heading out to the airfield to fly down to Goodwood, and got the response 'No tasks found for today':
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
NB the time on the top says 1351 as that's the time I went back to get the screenshot. In fact, this was grossly misleading and I found myself flying over Lasham while they were launching >100 gliders. Thankfully a. Farnborough were better informed; b. I was at 4000ft in IMC, in and out of cloud, and the gliders were where they belonged, below the cloudbase, as we could see in the gaps.
A refresh of the screen at 1351 showed a .kml file which opens beautifully in Google Earth and would have been rather helpful if it had been there at 0800.
I think this website did more harm than good. If I'd not been to the website I'd have kept well clear as the NOTAM did state the competition was going on. However, because the website said there were no tasks today I assumed the wx forecast had caused today's competition to be postponed which made it more dangerous, not less.
Tim
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Originally Posted by tmmorris
I was at 4000ft in IMC, in and out of cloud, and the gliders were where they belonged, below the cloudbase, as we could see in the gaps.
Glider pilots will announce their entry into cloud on 130.4 - so it's worth keeping an ear open on this if you are IMC when there are likely to be gliders around.
The only equipment a glider is required to have to fly in cloud (unless it's changed in the last few years) is:
No glider shall enter cloud unless all its occupants are wearing parachutes and have been instructed in their use.
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Amigos in spam cans and other poorly fenestrated aircraft, I truly do not believe a task was set today for Lasham comps, as cloudbase is currently given at 350 feet!!!!!
HOWEVER be warned that even if the day is scrubbed and no task is set, this does not mean that no glider flying takes place. They've got nothing else to do if the day is scrubbed, so a lot of them may take off anyway and go local soaring! Practice, practice!
HOWEVER be warned that even if the day is scrubbed and no task is set, this does not mean that no glider flying takes place. They've got nothing else to do if the day is scrubbed, so a lot of them may take off anyway and go local soaring! Practice, practice!
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If you look at the site now, there's a task listed.
Thinking about this later, I think what's misleading is the site is coded to put today's date at the top even when it's not been updated. If it had said 28th May at the top, I'd have realised I was too early and check it again before takeoff. Because it said 29th I believed there was no task.
I've never understood why gliders are allowed in IMC without complying with IFR. It makes a mockery of everything you learn about quadrantal rules, VFR minima &c. keeping you safe(r) in IMC OCAS.
Thinking about this later, I think what's misleading is the site is coded to put today's date at the top even when it's not been updated. If it had said 28th May at the top, I'd have realised I was too early and check it again before takeoff. Because it said 29th I believed there was no task.
I've never understood why gliders are allowed in IMC without complying with IFR. It makes a mockery of everything you learn about quadrantal rules, VFR minima &c. keeping you safe(r) in IMC OCAS.
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Seems funny they have to have parachutes to fly in cloud for their own safety but they don't give a toss whether the people in the aircraft they collide with have parachutes.
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Blimey! Why all the anti-glider rants folks? You should go try it before you criticise.
On gliders and the quadrantal rule - what do powered aircraft do IFR when they are climbing or descending? They surely can't fly at the defined quandrantal altitude, can they? Gliders are always either climbing or descending, they have no way of flying level...
On gliders and the quadrantal rule - what do powered aircraft do IFR when they are climbing or descending? They surely can't fly at the defined quandrantal altitude, can they? Gliders are always either climbing or descending, they have no way of flying level...