W.J. (Bill) Dean (U.K.). wrote:
The U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch accident report on the fatal
crash involving a photographer on 9th August 2005 at Husbands Bosworth has
now been published.

It may be found at
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...65%2002-07.pdf .

W.J. (Bill) Dean (U.K.).
Remove "ic" to reply.



My first thought is that competition finishes, as we know them in the
UK, will probably have to be altered quite radically. A quote from the
report:

"[pilots] may have thought that because ultimately they were landing,
they were absolved from the obligation to observe Rule 5 whilst they
were racing towards the finishing line. However, gliders do not normally
approach a glider site at high speed and very low height requiring
pop‑up manoeuvres to avoid obstacles outside the airfield boundary.
Usually, they land from an approach involving a gradual descent at
moderate airspeed, crossing the airfield boundary at a height that does
not normally present a risk to spectators or passers-by. Therefore, it
is clear that the finishing technique used in this race by many of the
competitors did not constitute ‘landing in accordance with normal
aviation practice’ (see Rule 5 para (3)(a)(ii )) which automatically
exempts pilots from having to observe the ‘500 feet rule’ stipulated in
para (2)(b))."

The alternative, if such finishes are to be retained, is for an
exemption from the UK CAA for each competition, and it seems clear from
the report that this would require competition organisers to ensure that
spectators could not enter the potential at risk zone, which would be
practically impossible at many airfields I know.

I'm not a competition pilot, and haven't the nerve to fly a proper
competition finish, so wouldn't want to suggest how to change what we
currently do. I certainly don't have a view that such finishes are too
dangerous to be allowed to continue. However, reading the report is
sobering, and suggests to me that we won't be allowed continue as we
have been used to.