7 Collision Avoidance Habits

We’re taught from our very first lesson about scanning for other gliders, that maintaining a scan is super important when studying clouds, or the climb rate of turning gliders ahead.  Having your head buried high into a cloud for 5-10 seconds straight, studying the optimum climb point or path is far too long. Why? Everyone else is doing the same, so have a good look, then start your scanning habits again, because others are attracted to the same thing you are, and could be similarly distracted! You have a responsibility following, or being in the vicinity of another glider to fly in a way that will not endanger either of your lives.  Here are 7 findings on collision avoidance:
 

1. It all starts with a good scan and developing good scanning habits.  Systematically moving your vision from point to point in the sky.
2. Except when one is turning, when you’re on collision course, and one which is probably unavoidable, aircraft start out as small stationary objects and increase in size rapidly, all without moving relative to your position, which is why they are ‘invisible’ to your eye.
3. Minimise your time looking inside your cockpit, arrange your instruments thoughtfully (a good idea for reducing fatigue too, as less scanning is required!), clean your canopy each flight, use an audio variometer, etc.
4. When you’re in cruise, the area which is the biggest threat is plus/minus 10 degrees above and below, and 45 degrees to either side.  Give this area the most attention, your cruising scan can be done with medium untiring head movements.
5. Entering an area of lift, be sure to have a good look in the direction of the turn. As you’re slowing up, make sure you look up into the resulting flight path too, always look for the glider you haven’t seen!  What about leaving the thermal? You need to look there too and accelerate out of the thermal smoothly and predictably.
6. When approaching a turn point, an airfield, a cloud, others already climbing, or anywhere where there are potentially other gliders or aircraft, you’ll need to increase your scan rate, and make it a priority scan for you, and the others you’re approaching.
7. Situational awareness is king, maintaining a mental picture of who is around you is vital.  This can be done by the Mach one eyeball. Using Flarm targets through a device as an aide (but don’t become obsessed with it, they don’t always work!), the alarm to help see and avoid is the last resort.

So on your next flight, keep all these items in mind, and find some more to help keep you and your flying buddies stay safe, through safe flying manners, effective scanning, and situational awareness of the situation.

LOOK OUT! IT’S MORE FUN IF YOU DO!

Banner Photo by Petr Kolmann

 Adam Woolley was born into the gliding world, being the 3rd generation in his family. Going solo at 15, his thirst for efficiency in soaring flight & quest for a world championship title to his name has never wavered. One big passion is sharing his experiences & joy with other glider pilots all around the world. Adam is an airline pilot in Japan on the B767 & spends his off time chasing summer around the globe. He has now won 7 national Championships & represented Australia at 5 WGC's & 1 EGC.