Managing Flying Risk – Appendices

1 – Site Hazards and Mitigations Template

This document is intended primarily for expedition sites (for example where hill, ridge and mountain flying take place) as a briefing tool for visiting pilots. When a local pilot has trained at a challenging site, they will be aware of those challenges and will, within the course of their flying training have received the skills required to operate safely. The same is not true of a visiting pilot.

This template document aims to alert and support new and visiting pilots to the challenges of operating at these ‘technical’ sites. Clubs may wish to suggest mitigations for known hazards, including training for new and visiting pilots. The information could be published on the expedition club’s website so that visiting pilots can prepare before and/or during the visit.

The following example is based on a fictitious site.

Club name: Northmyndsoaringdowns GC  Site Name: Southdenboynebridge

Site Hazard Mitigation / training or skill required
Narrow runway Pilots must be able to run straight after landing, especially in crosswind conditions
Restricted landing area Pilots require the skill to land accurately and stop at the far end of the runway
Challenging, non – linear ridge to soar Pilots must attend our ridge soaring briefing and undertake training on our ridge in different wind directions due to the challenges of the shape of our local ridge
Turbulence on approach When our ridge is working, the approach to the Westerly runway is challenging. Pilots must be trained to land with very strong wind gradients and turbulence
Winch Launch Failures Turning downwind after a launch failure is the usual method if landing ahead is not possible. At our site, turning downwind after a launch failure may result in strong sink. Launch failure training must be undertaken for the three main wind directions that present challenges at this site
Aerotow launch failures Pilots should receive a briefing to prepare for a low launch failure which requires a landing in the valley. We have some standard procedures which may be trained in the club simulator
Public footpaths Pilots should be aware that there are two public footpaths that cross the airfield. Pilots should fly with sufficient margins such that members of the public can be avoided should they be using the footpaths
Wave soaring Our site experiences common wave lift conditions to extreme altitudes. Pilots should receive training in navigation, cloud descent techniques, and the use of oxygen. Optionally, pilots may wish to receive training in cloud flying
Remote land outs Our club is surrounded by very remote areas. Pilots should ensure that they are dressed appropriately and that they carry appropriate survival equipment and a method of electronic location.