No. 417 JANUARY 2024 The magazine of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association2 SKYWINGS JANUARY 2024 attitude For cross-country paraglider pilots who have traversed vast distances, conquered diverse terrains and soared to dizzying heights, the world of paragliding accuracy offers an opportunity to test your skills in a completely unique way. Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider entering this thrilling discipline: Precision amidst freedom. Paragliding is synonymous with freedom, but the accuracy discipline introduces precision into this liberating pursuit. It challenges pilots to blend their expertise in cross- country flying with precision landings. Imagine navigating the open skies, savouring the beauty of the landscape, and then descending with pinpoint accuracy to a designated target. It’s the perfect fusion of liberty and precision. Sharpen your skills. Paragliding accuracy pushes your flying skills to the limit. It demands mastery of your glider, precise control, and a deep understanding of weather conditions. To land on a 2cm target you’ll need to hone your piloting techniques, including approaches, brake manipulation and footwork, making you a better and more versatile pilot overall. Competitive spirit. If you thrive on competition, paragliding accuracy is tailor-made for you. It offers a platform to compete against fellow pilots across the world, challenging you to out-manoeuvre and out-perform them. The adrenaline rush of a close competition can be as exhilarating as the act of flying itself. Community and camaraderie. Joining the accuracy discipline opens the door to a welcoming community of pilots who share your passion. You’ll meet like-minded individuals from many other countries who are equally enthusiastic about pushing the boundaries of their skills. The camaraderie among accuracy pilots is second to none, fostering lifelong friendships and a support network that extends beyond the skies. There are also many opportunities to include your non- flying friends and family into the ground- based activities associated with accuracy competition. We can offer great training from our experienced coaches to get you to the highest level. Adventure beyond boundaries. Paragliding accuracy can take you to new places and introduce you to diverse landscapes. Competitions are often held in stunning locations, allowing you to explore hidden gems that you might not have visited otherwise. It’s a chance to combine your love for adventure with the pursuit of precision. Personal growth. Engaging in the accuracy discipline can lead to personal growth and self-discovery. It challenges you to push your limits, conquer fears and enhance your self-confidence. The sense of accomplishment when you hit your target is a powerful motivator, not only in paragliding but also in life. Paragliding accuracy is an exciting and fulfilling discipline that beckons paraglider pilots to step outside their comfort zones and explore new horizons. It’s an opportunity to elevate your flying skills, experience the thrill of competition and connect with a passionate community of like-minded individuals. If you’re ready to take your paragliding adventures to the next level, consider embracing the precision of paragliding accuracy. Challenge yourself, embrace the freedom, and experience the rush of landing with pinpoint accuracy. The accuracy discipline invites you to soar to new heights of excitement and achievement. We have created a survey to help us develop participation in paragliding accuracy. We would like to encourage all BHPA members to spend a couple of minutes to give us your views. To show our appreciation for your time and input, we’re offering exciting prizes and recognition opportunities. By completing the survey you automatically enter a draw for a chance to win exclusive paragliding gear and accessories. Your insights could also be featured in articles and publications, giving you a platform to share your expertise with the world. Don’t miss out on this chance to make a real difference in the world of paragliding. Your voice matters; together we can take paragliding accuracy to new heights. Use the link below, complete the survey and help shape the future of paragliding accuracy. Together, we can ensure that this incredible sport remains safe, thrilling, and accessible for generations to come. Thank you for being a part of this exciting journey! Your voice matters in shaping paragliding accuracy! Mark Bignell, BHPA Accuracy Panel Chairman Paragliding is a pursuit that has captivated the hearts of thrill-seekers and adventurers everywhere. The freedom of flight, the rush of wind in your face and the breathtaking vistas below create an unparalleled experience. Yet within this exhilarating realm of paragliding there exists a discipline that adds a new layer of excitement and challenge – paragliding accuracy. Photo: Arthur Bentle y4 SKYWINGS JANUARY 2024 regulars regulars reviews features JANUARY 2024 SKYWINGS 5 THE BHPA LTD 8 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1RJ. Tel: 0116 289 4316. SKYWINGS MAGAZINE is published monthly by the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Ltd to inform, educate and entertain those in the sports of Paragliding and Hang Gliding. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, their Council, Officers or Editor. The Editor and publisher accept no responsibility for any supposed defects in the goods, services and practices represented or advertised in this magazine. The Editor reserves the right to edit contributions. ISSN 0951-5712 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DELIVERY ENQUIRIES Tel: 0116 289 4316, THE EDITOR Joe Schofield, 39 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BH. Tel: 01379 855021. COVER PHOTO Winter wonderland – and Niviuk Kode P and Roamer P harness – in Mark Leavesley's back garden at Bishop's Castle: Photo: Sian Leavesley THIS PAGE Over Kalugeritsa, north-east Bulgaria Photo: Nicolay Yotov DESIGN & PRODUCTION Fargher Design Ltd. Killane House, Ballaugh, Isle of Man, IM7 5BD. PRINT & DISTRIBUTION Newman Thomson Ltd, One Jubilee Rd, Victoria Ind. Est, Burgess Hill, RH15 9TL. ADVERTISING Tel: 07624 413737 Email: SKYWINGS ONLINE All issues of Skywings magazine are now freely available DEADLINES News items and event/competition reports for the March issue must be submitted to the Skywings office by Friday February 2nd. Letters for the February Airmail pages should arrive no later than Monday January 15th. Advertisement bookings for the February edition must arrive by Friday January 12th. Copy and classified bookings no later than the following Friday January 19th.6 SKYWINGS JANUARY 2024 news Interesting new EC study A new study into how human factors affect the use of Electronic Conspicuity (EC) has been published by the CAA. Conducted by aviation safety consultants Jarvis Bagshaw and overseen by GASCo, it includes some very interesting findings. Starting from the contention that sighting issues remain the most common cause of Airprox events, the study reviewed current literature and conducted a wide-ranging pilot survey. Live in-flight eye-tracking trials supported many of the survey findings while uncovering several new themes. The survey embraced over 2,000 responses, three-quarters of them from fixed-wing GA pilots. Around 85% of all respondents reported using EC of some sort. Here are some of the study’s key findings, based on the survey and eye-tracking trials. • The overall mean chance of detecting and being detected is approximately 50%, but is highly variable across EC combinations. • Pilots overestimate the probability of detection by 10 to 20%; they are more confident about being detected than about detecting others. • Pilot estimates of probability bear no relation to the calculated figures for their own combinations of EC equipment. • Many pilots appear to use EC in a way that assumes complete coverage, despite knowing that this is incorrect. • There is a low understanding of detection and detectability likelihoods. Pilots’ opinions of fellow pilots suggest only 50% fully understand their devices. • Realistic visual range was confirmed to be about two miles (up to three in perfect circumstances). • Pilots conducting a visual search for an EC target well beyond visual range were clearly demonstrated to be a threat. • Pilots commented on the false sense of security generated by EC, yet 60% of those who responded to the question also believed EC had saved them from a near-miss/collision at least once. A significant issue appears to be distraction by EC – from task priorities, unrealistic searches for targets, interacting with the device, information overload and too many audio alerts, especially in busy and critical areas. A further theme was general ‘head- down’ operation and a deteriorating look-out habit. During flight trials, more non-EC visual targets were seen than aircraft showing on EC. Yet the trials appeared to confirm visual lookout limitations: active lookout in the direction of a threatening aircraft (unknown and non-EC) can fail to pick up the aircraft even in good conditions. A further concern was that EC- cued searching can restrict lookout considerably. The survey results suggest a paradox: EC appears to be least effective and most distracting when the collision risk is highest (confirmed by the literature review): circuits, busy airspace, thermals, etc. Pilots reported EC being confusing in these situations and many will ignore it or switch it off. In other words, EC in its current form is least effective in situations where it is needed most. This will remain the case even if coverage and compatibility is substantially increased. The findings of this very interesting study will be used, alongside more CAA-commissioned research, to inform future decisions on an EC standard, itself designed to facilitate the Airspace Modernisation Strategy. Find it at excellent video summary is at BHPA AGM As reported earlier, the Association’s 2024 AGM will take place at Loughborough University’s Holywell Park Conference Centre on February 24th, beginning at 11am. This is an opportunity to learn what the Association’s many volunteers, and its small but effective staff, are doing on your behalf, and to make suggestions as to its future direction. At the AGM, Exec members Marc Asquith, Tom Prideaux-Brune, Ed Cunliffe, Angus Pinkerton and Martin Heywood will stand down. Of those, Marc, Ed, Angus and Martin will stand again for re-election. Tom Prideaux-Brune will not stand; Exec thanks him for his work over the last four years and for the fresh thinking he has brought. Stuart Blackburn of the South East Wales club has put himself forward as a prospective Exec. member. This issue of Skywings contains the voting form for elections to Exec. Note that members can vote in person at the meeting or by proxy – see the form itself for details, inserted elsewhere in this issue. All members are welcome to attend; the meeting can also be accessed online via the BHPA Facebook page. AGM resolution For those perplexed by the wording of the Resolution proposed for the AGM (to be found in the green voting papers in this issue), here is the background. The BHPA’s 1995 AGM passed a resolution that detailed when and where information about future AGMs should be made available to members. More or less: a minimum of four months, in Skywings. This was done without reference to, and (it is now realised) is in conflict with, the BHPA’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. With a February AGM, the process of printing voting papers and their delivery to the magazine distribution centre necessitates the closing date for nominations to be in late November. Informal notice of the date of the meeting, and invitations to stand for election, appear in Skywings several months prior to that – this year we gave approximately seven months’ notice of the Feb. 2024 AGM, in August Skywings. Thus the timetable for inviting members to come forward for possible election to Exec, and to give them sufficient time to consider standing, needs to begin well ahead of the schedule outlined in the 1995 Resolution; it was redundant on the day it was passed. Exec. seeks to iron out this anomaly by rescinding the original Resolution. It does not involve any loss of warning, representation, or the right for any member to stand for election or to have a voice at an AGM. You will find in the voting papers a Resolution to rescind it, which Exec. invites you to support. ACP process changes In October 2023 the CAA published a revised document outlining improvements to their Airspace Change Proposal process. The original ACP document (CAP 1616) appeared in 2017 and laid out the many stages required to pursue an airspace change in the UK. The latest version, effective from January 2nd, has taken on board feedback and insights from stakeholders affected by airspace change. Revisions to the process are said to focus on simplification, clarification and proportionality, and are intended to make the airspace change process easier to follow. The BHPA and its clubs’ roles in this still-byzantine process will always be as ‘stakeholders’, as distinct from ‘change sponsors’ such as airports, NATS and the military. If your club will be affected by an Airspace Change Proposal, CAP 1616 is the document that should help you understand the mechanisms by which a stakeholder can voice an opinion, and perhaps limit the impact of the proposed change. The revised CAP 1616 can be found at Simplifying the process just might encourage stakeholders to engage with the process sooner. And just might preempt the insane amount of work interested parties had to undertake to protest, for example the TDA proposed to safeguard the north-east NHS drone delivery trials, going live in early 2024. The TDA now covers less than half the area initially sought [the image below shows the extent before (red) and after local protests (yellow)]. Tandem Pilot training in Morocco Sky Summits will be running an intensive tandem training course in Morocco for suitably experienced pilots from March 3rd- 14th. The Mirleft area’s consistent and reliable flying conditions are ideal for repeated take-offs, soaring flights and top landings. The course uses experienced dual instructors to cover all the training required for the BHPA Tandem Pilot licence; it also includes all the theory work you will need to become a safe and skilled tandem pilot. There will also be opportunities to fly solo. Go out for 7, 10 or 12 days’ training under the watchful eye of CFI Pete Gallagher (a BHPA examiner will be present for candidates Continued overleafnews who are ready for the exam). For more details of a great holiday in the sunshine – partners are welcome at a supplementary cost – and booking, visit Flyfiesch.com website Robert Smith’s website about flying at Fiesch in the Swiss Alps, online now for nearly a decade, has moved to a new home: competent rather than expert hang glider and paraglider pilots who are interested in visiting Fiesch to fly XC (see page 30). It contains detailed advice about how to fly some of the routes, with links to tracklogs and 3D visualisations of real flights. There are also sections on local valley breezes, assessing weather prospects, launch sites and LZs, and on avoiding trouble. Robert says that he receives much positive feedback from pilots who study the website before visiting Fiesch. It’s isn’t monetised and it collects no information about visitors. In brief John Stirk. Longtime Dales Club member John Stirk died on November 15th following a long illness. A very active hang glider pilot from the late 1970s onwards, John once held the British distance record at 83 miles, surrendering it in 1982 to the legendary Bob Calvert. In 1984 he set a new Dales Club site record from Semerwater, landing across the Scottish border just short of Lockerbie at 129km. SRS dates. The Ozone edition of the 2024 Sports Racing Series is underway in Piedechinche, Colombia as you read this. Three more events have now been finalised. These will take place at Berga in Spain on June 2nd-8th; Montalegre in Portugal on July 7th-13th; and Kruševo in Macedonia on August 25th - 31st. Specific sponsors are yet to be allocated. Register for all these events at Big Fat Repack. The Thames Valley Club’s Big Fat Repack will run on March 25th at its usual venue, the Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre, GU11 2EY. Bookings are on a first-come-first-served basis. Make contact via Thames Valley Telegram. Green Gragons Club Coach course. Green Dragons will be running a BHPA Club Coach course for all disciplines on May 18th-19th. Full facilities and bunkhouse accomodation will be available. The cost will be £45 per head; book at Skywings 2022 index. We lacked the space to run the annual index of articles last year, but the 2022 index is available on the BHPA website. As ever, we are indebted to John Owen-Jones for his exacting work of compilation. His 2023 index will follow shortly. BHPA 500 Club WIN CASH PRIZES AND HELP THE ASSOCIATION! November winners: James Styles £129.00 Adam Anthony £64.50 Christopher Arthur £32.25 David Eland £19.35 Eddie Colfox £16.13 David Moy £16.13 Darrin Hooper £12.90 Dominic Doran £12.90 Adam Langford £9.68 David Hayes £9.68 BHPA £322.48 Winners will note that payments of the above sums have been made to the account from which they contribute to the 500 Club by standing order. In case of error, please contact Marc Asquith on 07802 52509 Saturday February 24th: 11am Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough University, LE11 3GR • Election of Officers to BHPA Executive Committee • Officers’ reports to AGM • Presentation of BHPA Awards • Members’ discussion forum the AGM will be live streamed for all to participate - see the BHPA website or the BHPA facebook page for details AGM 2024I am reporting on the financial year which ended on 31st March 2023. Over the course of the year inflation rose to over 10%, putting pressure on every area of the Association, but some of our costs rose at a much faster rate than this. Our third-party insurance costs increased by £88k (19%) to £554k. With international competitions back to normal our competitions grants were back at pre-covid levels (£40k compared to the previous year’s £9k). The FSC team had a very busy year catching up after covid and their costs were up 16%. Income from membership subscriptions (up 6%) did not keep up with inflation or the increase in costs. Exec had anticipated much of the increase in costs coming out of covid, and the hike in insurance premiums, but decided to use some of the surplus built up in 2021 and 2022 to cushion the impact of rapidly-increasing costs on subscriptions. As a consequence, overall revenues did not increase at the same rate as costs and the Association made a loss of £68k for the year (compared to a surplus of £88k in 2022 and £74k in 2021). In the current financial year (which ends in March 2024) our costs, in particular insurance, have continued to rise and Exec has had to take action to bring the Association back to break-even. Savings have been sought across the board; we have reduced admin staff hours, and one member of the technical team took up our offer of voluntary redundancy. I anticipate that the Association will make another loss this year, but with the finances on a more stable footing we will be back in surplus next year without having to increase membership subscriptions by more than inflation. We have a long standing policy of maintaining the real value of our reserves over the medium term, and the financial pressures of last year and the current year illustrate why this so important. Having made significant surpluses in 2021 and 2022 we were able to plan for and accept losses in 2023 without having to either hugely increase subscriptions or make radical cuts to staffing. Despite the loss I’m pleased to say that with reserves of £635k the BHPA remains in good financial health. My thanks go to all the BHPA staff who have worked through quite a difficult period and still delivered excellence for the membership. Angus Langford, BHPA Treasurer Quick facts ab bout the NG series: (²) Surface )(k Max load )ih (k)ih (k NG NG light The world´s leading rescue systems Use of high-q• even at low sp g, g • Available in 3 certified acco • New, innovativ • Excellent sink to a jump from • Very reliable o • Intelligent, ligh uality lightweight materials peeds gp sizes as NG and in the light ver rding to EN12491 ve X-Flare concept for high effic k rates, each just over 5 m/s, equ m a height of about 1.3 m opening and extremely good pe htweight construction for fast op pg , NG 14 NG 12 flfhX NG 10 rsion NG light, ciency uivalent endulum stability penings, 33 14040 Serie 2912020 Serie 2510000 Serie (m²)g)(k 1,49 1,85 1,3 18 1,6 ,1 g) 1,45 g)weight (k concept -FlareX- s to the , thankface -Nearly flat top sur innovative X weight (k 1, for oL r fast opening w canopy height projected surface area bution across the large -geneous load distri --flares for homoX stability pendulum outlets for air defined Precisely concept. BHPA Treasurer’s Report • Insurance £76 (£64) • Office and Support Costs £38 (£29) • Technical and Flight Safety Committee £28 (£24) • Skywings £19 (£19) • Competition Funding £5 £1) • Other Membership Costs £6 (£6) Comparative (2022) costs in brackets Costs per memberNext >