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RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile



 
 
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  #11  
Old January 22nd 18, 03:56 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Andreas Maurer
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Posts: 345
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

On Sun, 21 Jan 2018 23:38:29 -0800 (PST), krasw
wrote:

Very sad news. Safety of WGC events has been appalling for decades and if you calculate accident rate / participants or flight hours in Grand Prix events, it must be at least tenfold, probably more. This is not acceptable, and still we accept it year after year. Yes it's beautiful, exhilarating and media-sexy to compete few meters from mountains but this is crazy. If they would have same accident rate in motorsports, events would be simply forbidden as too dangerous.



Taking in count Klaus Kalmbach's accident (which was of the type that
usually ends fatal), the Chile Grand Prix had two extremely bad
accidents in a starter field od 20 pilots, that's one out of ten.



Glad that someone mentions that this accident rate is unacceptable.



Andreas

  #12  
Old January 22nd 18, 04:53 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
[email protected]
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Posts: 61
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

I'm also "glad" someone talks about it.

I really just can't stand those facebook and SGP posts about the celebrations, the beers and the contest about who's having the happiest closing party after watching the race online. Doesn't anyone of them know a human life was lost to his family?

GP gliding has proved more dangerous than WGC over the years. The loss of Herbert Weiss in NZ (please correct me if I'm wrong) was also followed by denial. Interviews were all about the excellent soaring and the sporting outcome of the final.

I have my own ideas or opinions as to why it is so dangerous. I've been flying 2 or 3 GPs in my life. My experience was of strong emotions I had never lived again (up to the GP) since childhood. The kind of "my friends are leaving me out" or "please wait for me I want to be a member of the group" sort of thing. I was surprised I felt strongly as an adult during a gliding competition.

This put a lot of pressure on me, and it's easy to predict that my decision making processes may be negatively affected. On the other hand, one might counter-argue that the placement point system easily leaves you at Zero points for the day, so the decision to just quit the race should in facts be easier.

In my opinion, while each pilot certainly is responsible for safety, a coaching system or a brief session with a "shrink" specialised in high-risk sports would be recommendable. Especially as the GP formula has failed to bring in sponsor money, and the remaining objective is that of a wider awareness of gliding as a competitive sport in the attention of the general public.

just my disappointed and sad 2cents.

Aldo Cernezzi
www.voloavela.it
  #13  
Old January 22nd 18, 05:04 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Tango Eight
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Posts: 962
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

On Monday, January 22, 2018 at 10:53:31 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I'm also "glad" someone talks about it.

I really just can't stand those facebook and SGP posts about the celebrations, the beers and the contest about who's having the happiest closing party after watching the race online. Doesn't anyone of them know a human life was lost to his family?

GP gliding has proved more dangerous than WGC over the years. The loss of Herbert Weiss in NZ (please correct me if I'm wrong) was also followed by denial. Interviews were all about the excellent soaring and the sporting outcome of the final.

I have my own ideas or opinions as to why it is so dangerous. I've been flying 2 or 3 GPs in my life. My experience was of strong emotions I had never lived again (up to the GP) since childhood. The kind of "my friends are leaving me out" or "please wait for me I want to be a member of the group" sort of thing. I was surprised I felt strongly as an adult during a gliding competition.

This put a lot of pressure on me, and it's easy to predict that my decision making processes may be negatively affected. On the other hand, one might counter-argue that the placement point system easily leaves you at Zero points for the day, so the decision to just quit the race should in facts be easier.

In my opinion, while each pilot certainly is responsible for safety, a coaching system or a brief session with a "shrink" specialised in high-risk sports would be recommendable. Especially as the GP formula has failed to bring in sponsor money, and the remaining objective is that of a wider awareness of gliding as a competitive sport in the attention of the general public.

just my disappointed and sad 2cents.

Aldo Cernezzi
www.voloavela.it


The way I read it, news of the disaster came later. No one celebrates such a costly win! At least I hope not.

best regards,
Evan Ludeman
  #14  
Old January 22nd 18, 05:53 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Kevin Christner
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Posts: 211
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

It would seem GP scoring, by its nature, generates more risk than more traditional racing formats. One additional turn may cost 5 points out of 10 in GP but 1 point out of 1000 in a traditional format. Combine that with sending pilots over hostile terrain many are unfamiliar with and weak soaring conditions and you have a recipe for disaster.

On Monday, January 22, 2018 at 9:56:31 AM UTC-5, Andreas Maurer wrote:
On Sun, 21 Jan 2018 23:38:29 -0800 (PST), krasw
wrote:

Very sad news. Safety of WGC events has been appalling for decades and if you calculate accident rate / participants or flight hours in Grand Prix events, it must be at least tenfold, probably more. This is not acceptable, and still we accept it year after year. Yes it's beautiful, exhilarating and media-sexy to compete few meters from mountains but this is crazy. If they would have same accident rate in motorsports, events would be simply forbidden as too dangerous.



Taking in count Klaus Kalmbach's accident (which was of the type that
usually ends fatal), the Chile Grand Prix had two extremely bad
accidents in a starter field od 20 pilots, that's one out of ten.



Glad that someone mentions that this accident rate is unacceptable.



Andreas


  #15  
Old January 22nd 18, 05:57 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Branko Stojkovic
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Posts: 42
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

This is terrible news! IGC needs to do something about safety at WGC and GP events, as well as at all other gliding contests!

For starters, IGC must establish a portal where reports and analyses of all accidents and incidents in all IGC sanctioned competitions will be posted, including the IGC files and including any corrective actions taken. The culture of sweeping the accidents and incidents under the carpet so that the organizers can claim that they had a successful competition needs to stop and that needs to happen very soon.

I have personal experience in these matters and I think that this tragic event is an opportunity to change the prevailing culture of downplaying and ignoring the dangers of our sport.

A year ago, as a Serbian team captain at WGC in Benalla I witnessed many unsafe events, including two midairs. I sat in a number of team captain's meetings and pilot's briefings where these events were discussed, but no concrete or decisive action was taken and no pilot was penalized for unsafe flying.

Back in 2014, during the last practice day before the WGC in Rayskala, Finland I myself, flying an Arcus-T, came frighteningly close to causing a major accident right at the Rayskala airfield in front of many onlookers. This accident, which I somehow managed to avoid, could have resulted in multiple injuries and/or fatalities. However, the psychological damage to the two of us inside the glider, and to the fellow glider pilots on the ground that we nearly crashed into, wasn't avoided. I reported the incident to the safety committee and submitted to them my IGC log file. I subsequently had a couple sessions with the safety committee members, in which we discussed what happened. After that, I was allowed to fly in the competition without any repercussions. The incident was never officially mentioned, let alone reviewed and analyzed.

Branko Stojkovic
XYU
  #16  
Old January 22nd 18, 06:02 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Dan Daly[_2_]
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Posts: 718
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

They said in a news post on Jan 21 ( http://sgp.aero/finals2017/news_add_...mas-reich.aspx ) that they informed them after the prize-giving: "The news of Tomas death was relayed to the competitors and organisers at Vitacura a short time after the closing ceremony of the contest" so it sounds like no one there knew. They were probably watching the race to see if they could find out what happened - I would have too.

As for the accident during the practice period, they posted a video of the recovery on YouTube on Jan 14 and in the comments said: "We are delighted that Klaus is ok and recovering, probably partly due to the safety cockpit structure of his JS1 sailplane and the bushy area he hard landed in. We will keep you updated during and after the world GP Chile 2018."
They did mention during a grid walk video that the pilot was watching from his hospital bed and was awaiting medical flight back home, but nothing more was said...

On the YouTube commentary one contributor mentioned at one glider was damaged on the third last day on landing. I don't know if that happened (it wasn't reported), but the glider didn't fly the last two days.

Accident reporting, in my opinion, is important. I understand that it is difficult while trying to attract a wider audience, but being more open will prevent a reporter sensationalizing what would likely be termed 'an accident reporting cover-up'. In Kawa's book "Sky Full of Heat" p 76: "... when you read the accounts or official reports of accidents, you question yourself and consider what you would have done in a similar situation." Where are these accident reports for SGP? By the way, section 1.6 "Why are you still alive?" starting on p 72 of the English translation is a must-read.

I know FAI/IGC do some safety videos of problems seen in contests - I saw one when crewing at the first Pan American Glider Championships 2015 on a mid-air collision (didn't say which one; gliders were anonymized) at a previous level 1 or 2 competition. It is unfortunate that they don't release such videos for contest organizers to use for safety talks unless it is at a L1 or 2 contest (I asked). It would be valuable for FAI/IGC to create a public place where all the glider pilots could benefit from the accounts. These lessons are paid for with the blood of our friends.
  #17  
Old January 22nd 18, 06:16 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Paul T[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 259
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

At 16:57 22 January 2018, Branko Stojkovic wrote:
This is terrible news! IGC needs to do something about safety at

WGC and
GP=
events, as well as at all other gliding contests!

For starters, IGC must establish a portal where reports and

analyses of
all=
accidents and incidents in all IGC sanctioned competitions will be
posted,=
including the IGC files and including any corrective actions taken.

The
cu=
lture of sweeping the accidents and incidents under the carpet so

that the
=
organizers can claim that they had a successful competition needs

to stop
a=
nd that needs to happen very soon.

I have personal experience in these matters and I think that this

tragic
ev=
ent is an opportunity to change the prevailing culture of

downplaying and
i=
gnoring the dangers of our sport.

A year ago, as a Serbian team captain at WGC in Benalla I

witnessed many
un=
safe events, including two midairs. I sat in a number of team

captain's
mee=
tings and pilot's briefings where these events were discussed, but

no
concr=
ete or decisive action was taken and no pilot was penalized for

unsafe
flyi=
ng.

Back in 2014, during the last practice day before the WGC in

Rayskala,
Finl=
and I myself, flying an Arcus-T, came frighteningly close to causing

a
majo=
r accident right at the Rayskala airfield in front of many onlookers.

This
=
accident, which I somehow managed to avoid, could have resulted

in
multiple=
injuries and/or fatalities. However, the psychological damage to

the two
o=
f us inside the glider, and to the fellow glider pilots on the ground

that
=
we nearly crashed into, wasn't avoided. I reported the incident to

the
safe=
ty committee and submitted to them my IGC log file. I

subsequently had a
co=
uple sessions with the safety committee members, in which we

discussed
what=
happened. After that, I was allowed to fly in the competition

without any
=
repercussions. The incident was never officially mentioned, let

alone
revie=
wed and analyzed.

Branko Stojkovic
XYU



The radio commentary on the last SGP task was interesting -
especially from the Chilean commentator. 'We don't fly in that area
so low' or similar words where repeated a number of times for the
southern portion of the task.

Whether this is related to the accident or not I do not know - but it
certainly seemed boundaries where being pushed a little during that
task.
  #18  
Old January 22nd 18, 06:21 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Jonathan St. Cloud
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Posts: 1,463
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

I hardly know what to say. I just wanted to say something as I watched the entire race, knew all the competitors names. To the family and friends of Tomas Reich, I know how mere words will always be inadequate, to express grief, of a loved one lost. I do humbly offer my prayers and wishes that soon, time will assuage your grief over the loss of Tomas, and will leave you with cherished memories of times shared and the opportunity to have known him and share the same air, time and place.

After having suffered multiple losses of loved ones over that last few years, I can tell you how important is to get to a place where you smile when you think of a lost love one


On Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 5:59:41 AM UTC-8, Paul Agnew wrote:
From Facebook:

Sad news from the last race day;
Local Chile pilot Tomas Reich had an accident on the ridges south of Santiago. The Chile SAR recovered Tomas and took him by helicopter to the hospital in Santiago. Unfortunately Tomas died during the evening from the injuries he sustained during the accident. Our thoughts and prayers are for his family and friends during this tragic time.

  #19  
Old January 22nd 18, 06:22 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Jonathan St. Cloud
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,463
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

I hardly know what to say. I just wanted to say something as I watched the entire race, knew all the competitors names. To the family and friends of Tomas Reich, I know how mere words will always be inadequate, to express grief, of a loved one lost. I do humbly offer my prayers and wishes that soon, time will assuage your grief over the loss of Tomas, and will leave you with cherished memories of times shared and the opportunity to have known him and share the same air, time and place.


On Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 5:59:41 AM UTC-8, Paul Agnew wrote:
From Facebook:

Sad news from the last race day;
Local Chile pilot Tomas Reich had an accident on the ridges south of Santiago. The Chile SAR recovered Tomas and took him by helicopter to the hospital in Santiago. Unfortunately Tomas died during the evening from the injuries he sustained during the accident. Our thoughts and prayers are for his family and friends during this tragic time.

  #20  
Old January 22nd 18, 07:50 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
krasw
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Posts: 668
Default RIP Tomas Reich - SGP Chile

So far work for improving safety in WGC events has realized in endless safety briefings before each competition day. Same chant goes on forever, "look outside, do not cut each other in thermal, do this, don't do that". After this, everybody goes to fly the task EXACTLY same way as always.

Sometimes one has to wonder what goes on in pilots minds. For example, I find thermal and start turning, after few turns fellow competitor joins same thermal and starts circling to opposite direction at same altitude. And this happens time and time again. They see you all the time and apparently decide that "let's collide with that glider right here and now". And this is just one small example of problems involving gaggle flying. Luckily one doesn't have to witness all the stupidity of involved flying at treetop level instead of landing out.

All this goes on forever, until there is rule that prevent stupidity, way of controlling the rule, and penalty. It takes all of these three components, if one is missing, we have useless rule.
 




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