Video from Day 1 of Region 4 North 2012

Sean, I guess you would get even more sympathy from other competition
pilots if you removed your cameras and spent more effort on flying safely
and lookout.

The massive amount of stuff you have stuck around your panel obscures your
view ahead, you rarely look out properly before making turns and levelling
out, and you seem to have a habit of flying thermals in the other pilots'
blind spot.

The problem with filming your flights (as I have done, and no longer do) is
that others are able to tell how well or badly you fly! The lesson I
learned from the exercise was to work harder on my lookout.

Did you see the other aircraft before it flarmed you? You had not looked in
that direction for a turn. As the other aircraft set off flarm, then he
would probably have been alerted to you even if he hadn't seen you at that
point. I doubt you were in great danger from the other pilot.

Jim

In addition to all the things that UH said, in UK contests we typically
have a pilot safety committee. This is 3 competitors deemed to be respected
and experienced, often senior instructors, and approved by a simple show of
hands at the beginning of the contest. Any issue like this can be brought
to their attention and the matter of genuine mistakes or safety concerns
can generally be resolved by chat and peer review. Normally a quiet, "mind
how you both go," works wonders all round and everybody learns from the
experience. Anything that turns out to be really bad can be escalated to
the comp organisers for possible penalty or official warning etc.

Personally I dislike folks barreling in to an established thermal and
causing me to take some precautionary action as you chose to do. As Jim
says, the other guy's flarm would have warned him about you and I think he
could have made a bit more effort on this occasion.

Martin N5

Jim,

I did see this particular pilot coming basically all the way from the thermal behind me, a small gaggle maybe 4 miles back. I certainly do not see all of them, but in this case I saw him coming. I think he saw me, but its much easier to be aggressive when you have energy and can pick your spot to pull up in the circling gliders thermal. To him it probably felt fine. But for me I feel like a sitting duck as you do not know for sure if the guy see's you. If you keep going with your turn and loose sight, and he does not see me, the next thing I hear might be a massive bang. Scary stuff.

The FLARM warning was impressive in this case (as it usually is)! I am also blessed with 20/10 vision and a fairly intense desire to use it to the best of its ability.

In terms of vision obstructions, believe it or not, none of the equipment (FLARM portable, Nano or camera's) on the top of the panel are outside the panel or canopy structure from a viewing perspective. The Flarm is just touching it although the antenna's are in the canopy a bit. I have a long torso and my head is right at the top of the glider. Of course the PDA and a bit of the Colibri II obstruct some view for sure. Mainly the PDA.

Thanks for your input. I fully expect potential criticism. I have very thick skin. Its the best way to learn. For example, I received an email pointing out that I had a heavy left foot within minutes of posting the video for example!

A few more video's will be coming out of the next couple weeks.

Best,

Sean

Thanks all for the thoughts. I think this is good stuff for people to see. Fun fun sport! Amazing!!!

For me its just a matter of learning what to expect and trying to get a bit more comfortable with lots of traffic. Rules of the road stuff.

On FLARM I am not sure I ever get the clock dial screen for some reason. But the threat on the screen was red and the Flarm was beeping at full volume. It was definitely what I would call a collision warning but maybe I am missing something. I know I have the latest software. But it is a portable and not a brick. Anyway, I thought I would clarify.

Best,

Sean

Am 01.11.2012 02:25, Sean F (F2) wrote:
...
On FLARM I am not sure I ever get the clock dial screen for some reason. But the threat on the screen was red and the Flarm was beeping at full volume. It was definitely what I would call a collision warning but maybe I am missing something. I know I have the latest software. But it is a portable and not a brick. Anyway, I thought I would clarify.

Best,

Sean


When you have NOT set "competion mode" (which is different from "stealth
mode") you'll get early warnings from FLARM: Beeps without the clock
dial. This is probably what you got. To my knowledge the volume is not
adjusted to the warning level, it is always constant.
--
Peter Scholz
ASW24 JE

Thanks Peter. Ill take a look at it with that info.

On Thursday, November 1, 2012 3:15:06 AM UTC-4, Peter Scholz wrote:
Am 01.11.2012 02:25, Sean F (F2) wrote:

...

On FLARM I am not sure I ever get the clock dial screen for some reason.. But the threat on the screen was red and the Flarm was beeping at full volume. It was definitely what I would call a collision warning but maybe I am missing something. I know I have the latest software. But it is a portable and not a brick. Anyway, I thought I would clarify.



Best,



Sean





When you have NOT set "competion mode" (which is different from "stealth

mode") you'll get early warnings from FLARM: Beeps without the clock

dial. This is probably what you got. To my knowledge the volume is not

adjusted to the warning level, it is always constant.

--

Peter Scholz

ASW24 JE