BHPA e-News

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