BHPA e-News

2009-08-15T14:23:55Z

BHPA e-News
A round-up of recent news items from the Skywings Team

Mid-air collision
On Saturday 9^th August there was a mid air collision between two paraglider pilots at the BCC on Long Mynd. As a result, Stephen Allen from SE Wales Club and Dennis Wray from the Dales club impacted the ground hard. First aiders attended, and the air ambulance was called.

Both pilots received emergency attention at the scene, and were then taken away. Sadly Steve Allen passed away on arrival at hospital.

Dennis Wray is in intensive care, recovering from emergency surgery, and is said to be "stable and comfortable".

There will be a full investigation into this tragic accident, but for the moment our thoughts must be with Steve and Dennis's family and friends.

CAA decision on Mode S
On July 1^st the Civil Aviation Authority published its final decision on the second phase of expansion in the use of Mode S transponders in UK airspace. Following extensive consultation on a variety of proposals, the CAA has decided to focus on the busiest and most complex areas of airspace for the expansion of Mode S use.

The CAA intends to introduce regulation to require all aircraft (except gliders) flying within Class A to C controlled airspace to carry and operate a Mode S transponder with effect from October 1^st 2009. For gliders read also hang gliders and paragliders.

The Mode S transponder carriage regulations will also be extended to include gliders with effect from April 6th 2012. Amendments to the regulations will bring Self-Launching Motor Gliders into line with the regulations for all other gliders. There will still be an option for Air Traffic Control to allow non-transponder equipped flights into the airspace, providing safety and efficiency levels can be assured.

So far, so good. There has been no mention of further tightening of the rules to include all GA aircraft, wider areas of airspace or Transponder Mandatory Zones. Yet. This is not the end of the Mode S story.

The full CAA decision and further background material is available at www.caa.co.uk/modes. A fact sheet on Mode S is also available at www.caa.co.uk/docs/1/Mode%20S%20decision%20-%20In%20Focus.pdf.

Toby Colombé sets new paragliding World Record
On 26^th July, British Pilot Toby Colombé of Passion Paragliding set a new out and return tandem world record! Toby launched from Sorica in Slovenia at just after 10am and struggled with very light thermals for the first couple of hours.

Shortly after midday he crossed into Italy, and then flew deep into the Julian Alps before returning to Slovenia in the late afternoon. It took Toby just over 7 hours to complete a 168km out and return flight, extending by 9km the previous world record set two years ago by local hot shot Tomaz Erzen.

Toby was flying a Gradient Bigolden XC for the first time: not bad for a test flight! Toby would like to thank Cefn Hoile "for being the perfect passenger as well as exhibiting extraordinary bladder control"; and Brett Janaway of xTc Paragliding for providing much needed encouragement and logistical support,.. oh, and for allowing Toby to test fly his wing!

Full details of this remarkable flight are available at www.passionparagliding.com.

Brits 4^th at Worlds
Great Britain claimed a creditable 4^th position at the fifth FAI Paragliding Accuracy World Championships in Croatia over the 21^st to 25^th June. Uncharacteristic wet weather reduced the competition from a maximum 12 round to a five round event. Competitors flew from a 1,000 feet tall hill with landing in a small valley below with the objective of landing as close as possible to a 3cm disc at the centre of a target area. Target approaches were not easy as pilots had to cope with both sinky and bouyant conditions in the valley landing field.

Brits Andy Shaw (5^th) and Andy Webster (7^th) flew very well to achieve top ten placings, with Don Bodill, Nick Simmons and Tony Blacker all making valuable contributions to the Great Britain score. China took the first two individual places with a Czech pilot taking third. Fierce competition from the Czech Republic and Serbia did not materialise, however, favourites Slovenia, an unknown team from China and an improved Bulgarian team pushed Great Britain into fourth place. Teams consisted of a maximum number of five male pilots and two female pilots and Great Britain were at a disadvantage of being unable to field any female pilots. Hopefully there will be British female pilots at the European Championships in Turkey (2010) and next World Championships in Czech Republic (2011).

The Great Britain team would like to thank the BHPA for funding towards the championships. Full results and photos are available on www.pgworlds-croatia.com.

Best glide ever?
Ozone say their test and design team has built a wing with the highest glide ratio of any usable wing in the history of paragliding. Ozone fluid dynamics boffin Luc Armant claims that the Baby HPP has a glide of 11.7:1, almost two points better than the highest-performing Open class wings, and a top peed of 70km/h.

The Baby HPP is not for sale, but the Ozone team say the project is not over yet. Its findings are likely to trickle down to the rest of the Ozone range and may result in an Open-class wing that will outdo the cutting-edge Mantra R09.

FAI Gold
Congratulations to Captain Steve Penfold REME, who recently gained the FAI Gold badge for hang gliding with a 100km, five-hour flight, plus height gains of over 2,000m, on an Airborne C4.

And Brett Janaway has gained two FAI Diamond badges for paragliding distance and duration.

Detail of the newly-revised FAI badges can be seen at www.fai.org. Work is under way to integrate such awards into the hang gliding and paragliding XC leagues, both to simplify applications and to encourage all pilots to follow Steve and Brett‘s example and improve their flying performances.

BHPA AGM
The BHPA AGM will be held this year at the National Watersports Centre, Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, on Saturday December 5^th.

The Sport and Leisure Aviation Show continues at the NEC on November 28^th - 29^th; this year the BHPA will have no direct involvement in the show.

BHPA e-News

2009-07-01T16:46:51Z

BHPA e-News
A round-up of recent news items from the Skywings Team

Karen Skinner: three new paramotor records

British paramotor pilot Karen Skinner set three new world records at the recent Flypa Festival in Teneriffe. On May 1^st she beat the women‘s altitude record of 4,030m and set a new 3,000m time-to-climb record of 29 minutes on her PAP/Advance Epsilon 6 outfit.

The following day she set a 15/25km speed record of 54km/h. Two weeks later Karen won the final task at the Spanish paramotor nationals at Tomelloso to take sixth place overall. The event was won by Juanjo Garcia.

Annecy changes

Access rules at Annecy‘s Col de la Forclaz launch have changed. The barrier across the road remains, but an electronic key can be obtained from the Town Hall in Doussard (Monday to Friday). A 50 euro deposit is required.

Until recently the card has been free for hang glider pilots whereas paraglider pilots have to pay 35 euros per day per vehicle. However some operators have been pretending to be hang glider pilots to get free access and the system has had to be changed. Now all pilots are charged 35 euros a day - particularly punitive on the lone hangie as the local navette cannot carry hang gliders.

However we are told that if you contact M. Chandelier at the Town Hall at Montmin (the authority which controls site access ) two weeks in advance, he will notify the Town Hall in Doussard and hang glider pilots will be issued with a free electronic key on arrival for your use. You must show proof that you are a hang glider pilot and a member of a club and/or an association. The barrier is in use during busy periods and throughout the French summer holidays. There has been some friction over the recent changes; please treat the Montmin and Doussard Mairie staff with restraint and respect.

Contact details are: Mairie de Montmin, SIVW HL, Chef Lieu, 74210 Montmin, France. You can telephone on 0033 (0)450607105 but you must be able and prepared to speak French. The office is not online. Details (in French) are at http://federation.ffvl.fr/alerte/alerte-annecy. Any changes - and the situation is likely to change – will be promulgated there. We are indebted to BHPA member Paul Dixon for this information.

Skywings photographer on show

Richard Sheppard, accomplished free flight photographer and regular contributor to Skywings, has an exhibition of his images running at the Link Gallery at Cheltenham General Hospital, starting in July and finishing at the end of October.

It‘s called "Air" and covers free flying and other connected things: general aviation, nature, weather and such. Prints are for sale with 20% going to Arts in Trust. Details are at www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/content/arts/.

Podcast update

Judith Mole has expanded her library of free-flight podcasts, available for downloading or listening online at www.judithmole.net/blog/?page_id=123. Recent additions include Mental Training (two-time PWC champion Anja Kroll), Coaching (Lanarkshire and Lothian Chief Coach Dave Thomson), Alpine Flying (Tom Payne) and SIV and Pilotage (Pat Dower).

Earlier themes include include XC Tips (Kai Coleman), Flying in Competitions (Nicky Moss), and CP - What Next? (Mark Dann). The quality of these downloads is steadily improving and more are planned.

Dickenson replica soars!

On the afternoon of Saturday March 28^th the John Dickenson replica hang glider, designed in 1963 and built in 2008, finally soared at Sand Point, Weston-Super-Mare.

Builder and pilot Jason Board reported that the replica flew very well with good pitch response. Jason had two soaring flights of between two and three minutes each in winds of 23 - 25 mph with strong gusts coming through. He was able to hover, move up and down the small coastal ridge and even top land. The glider was very controllable and was able to reverse back up the hill in the strong conditions.

However whilst fixing a video camera to the frame for a third soaring flight the sail flogged so much in the gusts that a seam on the trailing edge started to part and further flying was abandoned. Jason and Mark Woodhams, who has overseen the replica rebuild with input from John Dickenson himself, decided that having proved what they set out to do they should retire the glider.

It will now join the other hang gliders in Jason‘s British Hang Gliding Museum. The replica originally flew in September last year (see October 08 and January 09 Skywings). "I think it is quite astonishing that the very first modern hang glider has now been proved capable of soaring flight as well as simple hill launching," said Mark afterwards. "The fact that John Dickenson himself came over to see the first flight tests and helped with refitting the sail to the frame makes the machine even more historically relevant."

Chamonix success

Sean Potts, former BHPA and now French paragliding instructor, won the FFVL-organised Vol et Ski challenge at Chamonix in March.

The challenge, consisting of 11 two-day events held in the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps and the Pyrenees, is a sort of paragliding accuracy event in which the use of skis allows for around ten varied and dynamic spot landings per descent.

Sean won the tandem category and was runner-up in the solo category in 2008. He will be helping the local club organise the third Chamonix Vol et Ski competition in January 2010.

For more information contact him at info@fly-chamonix.com, URL: www.fly-chamonix.com.

Blorenge Bash

The three-day Blorenge Party and Fly-in Bank Holiday event returns to Pen-y-Worlod Farm, Abergavenny on August 29^th - 31^st and will be one of this summer‘s must-attend events. <

The Bash will share the venue and nearby flying sites with the SE Wales round of the BPCup, guaranteeing attendance by pilots from all over the country. There will be trade stands with major brands available for demo flights, camping, a free minibus service, bar and catering.

The venue covers some 20 acres next to the river Usk and will include a large marquee/beer tent and live music from local bands. The Blorenge Cup will be awarded for the longest flight of the weekend.

Entry costs £20 each or £30 for a pilot and partner if tickets are purchased before May 31^st. Tickets purchased between June 1^st - July 31^st will cost £30 each (or £40 including a partner), and £45/£55 after July 31^st. Accompanied children under 16 are free.

For further information and online booking go to www.sewhgpgc.co.uk/blorenge9.php.

BHPA e-News

2009-04-16T19:50:44Z

World's first jet paramotor!'

Mark Leavesley of Leavesley Aviation is to be the test pilot for a new turbine-powered paramotor project.

The unit will be designed and built by British Aerospace CAD expert Terry Lane and Aston Martin engineer Gary Crosby, both former collaborators with Mark in award-winning turbine model work. The engine selected is AMT’s Titan model that produces 40kg of thrust yet weighs only 4.6kg. AMT are sponsoring the project along with Blueye Eyewear.

Mark will use an Aircross U-Sport EN D wing and a harness that will incorporate kevlar fuel cells. “The project was a Team Leavesley Aviation idea some five years ago, but it’s only started to come together this year,” says Mark. “It will be heavy on fuel and loud as hell, but it sounds fantastic. It comes out really light so acro will be no bother. My only worry about this project is getting my ass burnt!” A website dedicated to this project will soon be up and running at www.jetpara.com.

New base for Chill Out

Kari Eisenhut (PWC winner, European Champion and Flight Test Director at Advance) is moving his Chill Out Paragliding operation into brand-new premises next to the landing field in the centre of Interlaken.

The new building offers single and double accommodation and a bistro, plus weather and site information. The new premises will be opening on April 11th and 12th with presentations by Advance designer Thomas Ripplinger and Chill Out meteorologist Micha Schulze, plus talks about testing and development by Advance test pilots.

In addition to his usual Chill Out camps, Kari and his team will be running three five-day courses this year, tailored to the needs of the international flier and conducted in English.

X-Scotia

This year's X-Scotia event will take place some time in April or May, “With even more flying than in the past,” says Mike Jardine of the SHPF.

There'll be details on the X-Scotia website at www.shpf.co.uk/x-scotia.php, or register your interest at xs@shpf.co.uk. Check the July 2008 issue of Skywings for details of this brilliant event, won on that occasion by Steve Nash.

World Masters

The World Hang Gliding Masters is an international hang gliding championship for pioneer and veteran pilots. It runs at Bach im Lechtal in Austria's Tyrol from July 12th - 18th.

The 95-euro entry fee includes a local Aktiv Card for free transport to and from launch by chair lift and bus. Pilots must be over 50 years of age, flying Class 1 or Class 5 gliders.

There's also a 30-euro entry fee for pilots that are not flying in the main competition. Details from Volker Kastenhuber at volker.kastenhuber@aon.at. Accommodation details from info@lechtal.at.

Berod and Sprüngli join U-Turn

French pilots Patrick Berod (former PWC Champion, pictured) and Vincent Sprüngli (X-Alps contender) have joined the U-Turn team. With designer Ernst Strobl the pair are to develop a new competition wing, an LTF2 XC wing and a special X-Alps-type canopy.

Having set benchmarks in acro and beginner wings, U-Turn are clearly serious about the high-performance competition and XC market.

The Blorenge Party and Fly-in Returns

The Blorenge Party and Fly-in returns this year. This family orientated event will again be based alongside the river Usk in Abergavenny over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Further information is available on the SE Wales Club's web site at

www.sewhgpgc.co.uk/blorenge9.php

, and you can also book advance tickets through the Club web site and make a big saving on the "Gate Price".

BHPA e-News - 19 October 2008

2008-10-19T11:26:34Z

NEC show

A reminder that the Sport and Light Aviation Show takes place at the NEC on November 29^th and 30^th.

Free flight importers and dealers booked as we go to press include Airways, Bailey Aviation, Flylight, Northern Paragliding, ParAvion and UK Airsports. There will be a presence from the various airsports' governing bodies: the BHPA, BMAA, BGA, LAA and CAA; also the BHPA Simulator, plus Cross Country International, Today's Pilot, Extreme Kites, Onrisk and Airsports Insurance.

An exciting schedule of talks and seminars has been arranged including Jocky Sanderson (thermalling and glider safety), Michel Carnet (maximum fun with minimum risk), and Nigel Page (starting XC flying). There will also be talks from Dr Bill Brooks (flexwing developments) and Richard Meredith-Hardy, and we hope to be able to confirm a talk about the Yuneec electric paramotor. Entrance is £5 to BHPA members with a valid membership card and £10 to non-members (doors open 10am).

For further information, please visit theflyingshow.co.uk.

John Dickenson presented with FAI Diploma

The Kernow Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association held a reception at the Railway Inn, St Agnes in September in honour of John Dickenson, inventor of the flexible wing hang glider.

During the reception past BHPA President Noel Whittall, on behalf of CIVL President Flip Koetsier, presented John with the FAI Hang Gliding Diploma for his pivotal role in developing the sport of hang gliding.

Jason Board of the British Hang Gliding Museum and historian Mark Woodhams have constructed a replica of the original Mk1 1963-vintage John Dickenson hang glider design. The replica has wooden leading edges and keel, a taped-together polythene sail and no top rigging. John witnessed the replica‘s first ground hops and it is hoped to ridge soar the glider later when conditions are suitable.

Brits dominate at Annecy

British pilots Brendan Reid, Jon Shaw and Tom Payne collected the lion‘s share of the prizes at the Annecy XC Challenge - the friendly XC league for pilots flying from Planfait and Col de la Forclaz.

Jon Shaw was second in the Sport class (DHV2-3 and above) with a total of 1,100km, while Tom Payne recorded the second-highest scoring flight of the year with a 105km FAI triangle and also won the tandem class.

Brendan Reid dominated the Fun class (DHV 2 and below), with the longest flight (a 111km out-and-return), second position overall and the longest open-distance flight, all completed during two weeks in early May.

Between them the three collected over 600 euros worth of prizes to the dismay of the local French pilots!

Brett's top-ten finish

Brett Janaway of xTc Paragliding finished 7^th in the Slovenian XC League at his first attempt this year, despite entering with only five months of the 07/08 season to go.

Missing the deadline for his final (116km!) flight entry by 48 hours meant 7^th place instead of 4^th, but he has made an excellent start in the 08/09 season by scoring the first 100km flight of the season, propelling him into 1^st place.

The 07/08 Slovenian XC League had 321 entrants from a total population of about 2 million. The 2008 UK XC League currently had 127 entries for a population of, er, 60 million? These Slovenians clearly know something we don't!

Downed paraglider false alarm

An emergency operation to find a paraglider in distress was called off near Whitby, North Yorks in September after the subject of the search turned out to be a paper lantern.

Police, fire crews, an SAR team, the coastguard and the RAF were all called in after a member of the public reported seeing a paraglider in difficulty land south of Whitby. After searching for nearly three hours, North Yorkshire Police found fresh ashes and the remains of a Chinese-style paper lantern in a hedgerow near Fylingthorpe.

Meanwhile in Norfolk a series of similar lanterns released from a party sparked a fortnight-long UFO panic. You couldn‘t make it up!

BHPA e-News - 27 June 2008

2008-06-27T21:22:50Z

Stolen tandem
Stolen in Acton, West London on 23rd June: an Ozone Magnum tandem (#MAG-H-220-001), mainly yellow with orange, white and grey flashes. Also a lightweight silver full face helmet, Sky Systems SAS2 harness and an old (c. 1990) harness in day-glo pink, yellow and purple. Any information to Ian Merrylees on 07929 710964, e-mail: ian.merrylees@bbc.co.uk.

Safety Notice from Gin Gliders
As written in the owner's manual, the competition models (Boomerang Sport and Boomerang) should be regularly checked, at least every 100 hours of flight or every year.
Similarly for the Yeti: pilots have to check their wing after every 50 hours of flight or every year.
There are additional specific instructions regarding competition Boomerangs, please refer to the user manual: www.gingliders.com/downloads/manual.php

We insist that pilots respect these inspection intervals as these gliders are very sensitive to any changes in the line's breaking strength and/or total line length. The aerodynamics, performance and safety of these models can be affected by changes outside the tolerances set out in the Maintenance Instructions: www.gingliders.com/downloads/manual.php

During inspections of Boomerang Sports with 100s of hours of use, we have found that some gliders have lines that have changed outside the tolerances we set for length.
After 100 hours+, some middle lines using material "LIROS DC 120" can shrink. The changes occur mainly on the D and brake lines.
This line shrinkage can be easily detected during the normal line length check as part of the required inspection after 100 hours or 1 year.

As a precaution, we have decided to offer replacement middle and upper line sets, free of charge, to all owners of Boomerang Sports and Yeti 08s that are fitted with LIROS DC 120 and DC 60.
Pilots should contact UK Airsports on 01768 779800 or email gin@ukairsports.com

Hang Gliding Pre-worlds

Follow the hang gliding pre-worlds - and the British Team - live online at the competition's official blog www.chabre2009.blogspot.com and at the website www.chabre2009.com - pictures, videos and reports will be updated every day. June 25 - July 5 2008.

BHPA e-News - 16 June 2008

2008-06-16T00:13:07Z

Temporary Airspace Restrictions 7 - 14 July 2008

RAF Fairford will once again be hosting the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIATT) from the 7 - 14 July. With some 400 aircraft attending, temporary airspace restrictions will be in place for the duration of the event.

Full details of the airspace restrictions in force during this event are available for download as a pdf file (2.4mb approx) from the BHPA web site at:

www.bhpa.co.uk/pdf/brzntn-3.pdf

The 2008 CAA Mode S Phase 2 Transponder Consultation

The final response of the BHPA Airspace Panel to this consultation is available for download on the BHPA web site at:

www.bhpa.co.uk/pdf/BHPA_Final_Response_June_2008.pdf

For the moment all we can do is hope that our continuing input has a positive influence on the final outcome of this consultation process. Further information will be posted on the BHPA web site as and when it becomes available.

Homegrown Festival

The latest update from the Homegrown Festival, which takes place on September 12th - 14th at Fforest Fields in mid-Wales, includes the news that Raul Rodriguez will be giving both flying displays and a talk there. Raul has dominated paragliding aerobatics over the past few years and is known to be very humble and likeable guy.

Headlining on the Saturday evening will be My Federation, hot from four-star reviews in Q and Mojo. The organisers are looking for singer-songwriters to play in the acoustic tent - if you're interested drop Hugh Miller a line at hugh@xcmag.com (also any volunteer stewards or children's entertainers who would like to get involved).

The Festival is fast becoming a must-go date. Fforest Fields has a huge flying ridge and there's a separate paramotor field on site. Attractions include teepees, talks, music, food, films, kids & entertainment and loads of gliders to test fly.

All the latest news and a sample of the My Federation sound can be found on the festival web site at :

www.homegrownfestival.com

BHPA e-News - 22 May 2008

2008-05-22T17:07:14Z

CAA Mode S Phase 2 Transponder Consultation - May 2008

BHPA Draft Response

The BHPA Airspace Panel's draft response to the CAA Mode S Phase 2 Transponder Consultation is now available for download at: www.bhpa.co.uk/pdf/BHPA_Draft_Response_May_2008.pdf.

Please use this to aid you when responding to this CAA Consultation.

A summary document is also available on our web site, and provides the background to this important consultation. This runs through the pros and cons of each of the proposed options.

There are three methods of responding to the consultation document: online, by email, by post. The online response document only allows answers to specific questions. So any "off topic" response will have to be by post or email.

The deadline for responses is 5.00pm on 31 May 2008.

The e-mail address modesconsultation@caa.co.uk.

The web-based consultation response mechanism – www.caa.co.uk. Click on "Mode S" and follow the links.

The post address: Mr Andy Knill, Head of Surveillance & Spectrum Management, Directorate of Airspace Policy, CAA House K6 G6, 45-59 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6TE.

Please respond using your own words.

Multiple copies of exactly the same response tend to get counted as a single response - so it is best if members read the two documents and then respond to the CAA with their own points.

We do not expect all of our members to produce seventeen page response documents! Choose the point that you feel most strongly about and respond on that topic. Choose a couple if you have the time.

BHPA e-News - 7 May 2008

2008-05-07T22:40:27Z

British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association e-News

CAA Mode S Phase 2 Transponder Consultation April 08

As BHPA members will know, the CAA has issued a new set of consultation proposals for Mode S transponder usage, requiring a response by 31 May. These can be viewed at www.caa.co.uk. Click on ‘Mode S’ and follow the links. Individual BHPA club secretaries should also all have received CD's direct from the CAA detailing the proposals.

Most members will recall that the CAA launched a public consultation on the proposed expansion of Mode S transponder usage in June 2006. This resulted in a significant level of concern and opposition to the policy from the sporting and recreational flying community. As a result of the feedback from that consultation, the CAA has decided that a more gradual, phased approach will need to be employed, and further consultation will be needed on some elements of the proposed policy. This present consultation is part of that.

The Government recently approved proposals that make Mode S the required means of compliance for transponder carriage in all the mandatory circumstances with effect from 31 March 2008.

So – to be clear – the present consultation is not about whether or not you think Mode S transponders have a future in the UK: that has already been decided. This consultation is about the phased expansion of Mode S transponder usage.

It should be noted that, unlike the 2006 consultation, this consultation on the second phase of Mode S expansion does not propose that all aircraft should carry Mode S transponders in all UK airspace.

The Detail

The CAA's proposals are broken down into four 'options', ALL of which they deem desirable to implement but any final recommendation to Government will depend on information and feedback from stakeholders, which includes BHPA Membership (ie. individual Hang Glider, Paraglider and FLPA pilots).

Each 'option' is considered in specific documentation on the CAA website with a cost benefit précis and we suggest you read them for more detail.

Initial examination of the documents may suggest foot launch flyers are exempt from the proposals. This is true but we should pay attention to any knock-on effects and to the fact that inevitably sooner or later a suitable lightweight transponder will exist for hg/pg carriage.

Option 1
Require all aircraft (other than gliders) in controlled airspace to operate SSR Mode S transponders.

Pros to BHPA:

Increased levels of safety for aircraft within controlled airspace, i.e. those BHPA members that use airliners to get to their flying abroad!

Cons to BHPA:

· Once a Mode S infrastructure exists for the majority, the CAA's long-term plan for wholesale airspace reclassification will then be possible.

· Our existing operations in controlled airspace are based on Letters of Agreement (LOAs): as more traffic becomes ‘known’ it is quite possible that the toleration of our ‘unknown’ activities will evaporate.

· Non Mode S equipped powered traffic will have to find routes around controlled airspace, increasing traffic in the airspace where we can fly.

Option 2
Implement a formal process to support applications for ‘Transponder Mandatory Zones’ (TMZs) outside of controlled airspace.

The CAA already have the power to set up TMZ’s – and think it likely that more of these zones will be needed in the future. This proposal is about establishing a clear documented process for dealing with future applications for a new TMZ – as against the current vague, undocumented process.

Pros to BHPA: This perhaps gives us an opportunity to ensure that there is always a proper consultative process, and that the BHPA has a voice within it.

Cons to BHPA:

· There is the worry that, once the CAA has a nice new process for establishing TMZ’s, they will set to with gusto. (But they can do this using their existing powers).

· There is no certainty that the ‘formal process’ we are invited to vote for will include any consultation and/or criteria we agree with.

· The BHPA is already overloaded with the number of controlled airspace consultations that are going on.

(Nb. An increase in TMZ’s is a decrease in the amount of sky left open to us and all the other non-transponder aircraft, thus reducing our safety)

Option 3
Include Gliders in all SSR transponder carriage regulations.

This proposal would mean that gliders would have to operate a Mode S transponder when in any controlled airspace, when above FL100, and when in any TMZ.

In recognition of the challenges of equipping gliders with transponders, the existing regulatory arrangements whereby ATC units can authorise non-equipped aircraft to operate within controlled airspace, where safety and efficiency requirements would not be compromised, would remain. This would, ideally, be through standing LOAs.

As there is currently no suitable Mode S equipment available for HG/PG/SPHG, all foot launched variants would need authorisation from appropriate ATC units to operate within mandatory transponder carriage airspace after 31 March 2009.

Pros to BHPA: None known

Cons to BHPA:

· If all conventional gliders equipped themselves with Mode S then LOAs negotiated by the BGA for glider access to controlled airspace would no longer be required. This would then leave agreements for non Mode S foot-launch operations possibly unsustainable. That said, there will almost certainly be a number of glider owners whose preference is local soaring and who will chose not to equip their gliders with Mode S. So perhaps there will still be some support from within the gliding ranks to help maintain LOAs.

· Notwithstanding the above, it would seem probable that LOAs for Class D access on cross country flights will disappear.

· We should expect to find that once suitable Mode S equipment exists for hg/pg then, if we want access to controlled airspace outside the LOAs, we will be required to fall into line and equip with Mode S. (As at present such access will always be subject to an ATC clearance and probably the use of air band radios and R/T licenses to contact ATC).

Option 4
Mandate the carriage and operation of Mode S transponders on all powered aircraft conducting international flights.

Pros to BHPA: None known

Cons to BHPA: None known

(Nb. As Self Propelled Hang Gliders (a.k.a. phg and ppg) are currently classified in the ANO as gliders there is no impact for the BHPA membership at the moment. )

What Next?

The official BHPA response will be posted on the BHPA website to allow the membership time to reference it before the May 31 deadline.

There are three methods of responding to the consultation document: online, by email, by post. The online response document only allows answers to specific questions – none of which have any direct relevance to us. So any ‘off topic’ response will have to be by post or email.

· Via the web-based consultation response mechanism – follow links on CAA website

· By e-mail to modesconsultation@caa.co.uk; or

· By post to: Mr Andy Knill, Head of Surveillance & Spectrum Management, Directorate of Airspace Policy, Civil Aviation Authority, CAA House, 45-59 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6TE

BHPA Airspace Panel