Airspace infringement
Infringements of controlled airspace are potentially very dangerous. Although very few of the many infringements of controlled airspace in the UK each year involve gliders, any airspace infringement by a glider pilot damages the reputation of gliding.
A glider that was being flown from a wave site that hosts visitors from other clubs recently climbed into the base of an airway while flying in lee wave. Subsequent local investigation revealed the moving map display on the pilot’s Oudie equipment was not showing the airspace that was infringed and therefore no warning was presented. Further investigation established that although the pilot’s Oudie was set to display airspace up to 18,000′, this pilot had loaded Naviter chart data which it appears was incomplete. Once the Naviter supplied airspace information was replaced with a UK-sourced airspace file (supplied in this case by Navboys), the Oudie correctly displayed the previously ‘missing’ airspace. Enquiries among other glider pilots operating at the same site revealed that four GPS moving maps were found to have airspace above 10,000’ inhibited.
All pilots are respectfully reminded that any pilot in command is legally responsible for ensuring that they are familiar with the requirements relating to the airspace they are flying in. It is essential that all pilots in command assure themselves that the data being relied on when navigating is accurate and that they are familiar with any display and warning settings.
