Cockpit video recording -- the time is now.

On Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 8:16:08 PM UTC+2, Magnetar wrote:
Just to be clear, the FFVV (now FFVP) never mandated anything. It is asked for any pilot to be responsible and use Flarm to be visible to other pilots when flying the Alps. It is therefore common practice to use this tool and nobody in a sane condition would fly there without it. Like having anti-collision decals on your glider to be more visible against a snow cap for instance. You won't be fined if you don't have it, you would just be a complete jerk.

When you are flying the Parcours with probably several dozens of gliders in the vicinity, it is a VERY useful tool to avoid crashing into one another and look for potential collision hazards in the right direction. It would require superhuman capabilities to do this without this tool.
Now, it doesn't stop people from being complete a-holes and charge against other gliders just to get in a thermal or avoid deviating from their 'best energy' routes. Not everybody is a gentleman.

Flying is a privilege that should be preserved, the safer it gets, the more enjoyable it will be. Cameras, Flarms, ADS-B, etc... it's up to every pilot to be responsible in which tool they use to make themselves (and thus the others) safe.

Huh? Everywhere I've read suggests it is in fact mandatory in France - i.e. https://flarm.com/flarm-mandatory-in-france/
I don't speak enough French to verify this via the FFVP website.

Should have checked before saying something.. you're absolutely right, indeed FFVP mandated the Flarm but FFVP does not operate the airspace so I would guess that in theory you could fly without it there, which would be consistent with the multiple foreign pilots who go there without it.

I guess basically you wouldn't be able to take-off from an airfield operated by a FFVP affiliated club but you could fly there without this device. Like some power airplanes transiting in the area.

'................you could fly without it there, which would be consi=
stent with the multiple foreign pilots who go there without it.'


Well I'd be interested in your source for this assertion. Just checked
the website for the one glider field I know which is not affiliated to
FFVP and it clearly states you must have an operable FLARM and it
must be working with the most recent software.







At 18:32 03 October 2018, Magnetar wrote:
Should have checked before saying something.. you're absolutely
right,
inde=
ed FFVP mandated the Flarm but FFVP does not operate the
airspace so I
woul=
d guess that in theory you could fly without it there, which would
be
consi=
stent with the multiple foreign pilots who go there without it.

I guess basically you wouldn't be able to take-off from an airfield
operate=
d by a FFVP affiliated club but you could fly there without this
device.
Li=
ke some power airplanes transiting in the area.

Gee - I'm sorry that I'm not a responsible individual according to your
definition.Â* When you couch your arguments with negative adjectives to
describe people who don't agree with you, you lose all credibility.

On 10/3/2018 12:16 PM, Magnetar wrote:
Just to be clear, the FFVV (now FFVP) never mandated anything. It is asked for any pilot to be responsible and use Flarm to be visible to other pilots when flying the Alps. It is therefore common practice to use this tool and nobody in a sane condition would fly there without it. Like having anti-collision decals on your glider to be more visible against a snow cap for instance. You won't be fined if you don't have it, you would just be a complete jerk.

When you are flying the Parcours with probably several dozens of gliders in the vicinity, it is a VERY useful tool to avoid crashing into one another and look for potential collision hazards in the right direction. It would require superhuman capabilities to do this without this tool.
Now, it doesn't stop people from being complete a-holes and charge against other gliders just to get in a thermal or avoid deviating from their 'best energy' routes. Not everybody is a gentleman.

Flying is a privilege that should be preserved, the safer it gets, the more enjoyable it will be. Cameras, Flarms, ADS-B, etc... it's up to every pilot to be responsible in which tool they use to make themselves (and thus the others) safe.

--
Dan, 5J

Information we lack with GPS recorders and most video includes control input. We need to know if the pilot was reckless, unknowingly operating the controls in a fatal manner, or doing his best to counter an adverse external input. The details may reveal the cause.

I have mounted cameras behind me only to get 90% of the frame showing wide shoulders, fat neck, and a huge hat. The stick was completely obscured and rudder pedals too far away in a dark corner. I wonder if a tail mounted camera would not be more useful, as it would show positions of aileron and flap, and attitude. Maybe a mirror could also show the rudder. If rigidly mounted, a tail camera could also reveal structural bending of the tail boom and wings in a measurable way.

Wit, HZ.

Steve:
If you are going to do it (and you know I have my doubts) - a starting point might be to get the commercial ride operators to install video cameras and charge the customers extra for the video as a souvenir. I think may some do it already. Considering the number of recent unexplained tourist ride crashes, that might be a good start at a specific problem area and something that the commercial ride operators would want to do.
ROY