On Thu, 3 Jul 2008 19:37:02 -0400, "HL Falbaum"
wrote:


"Mike McCarron" wrote in message
...
It was mentioned during a talk Kai Gertsen gave at the Region 1 contest
this year that it is a good idea to call 911 if you land your glider
within sight of a road or other humans. The problem has been in the past
that many times the glider outlanding is called in to the authorities as
an airplane crash. What happens next is that some well meaning ambulance,
fire department, and police personell drive through the crop to help
"rescue" the pilot. This of course does much more damage to the poor
farmer's crops than your outlanding.

When you land out, call 911 and inform those people of your exact position
and that everything is fine (assuming you are physically OK) and you are
awaiting your retrieve crew. Let them know that no assistance is wanted
or required and that all appropriate authorities be notified of same. I
have done this myself and the 911 people are only too glad to get this
information so that they can save their assistance for those who truly
need it.


Good Idea!
This year at Cordele, GA (USA) 911 was called multiple times - Though the
inhabitants of the task area who have lived there a while are fully aware of
what gliders do---newcomers are not--.

The 911 dispatchers called the Airport multiple times, and finally asked the
contesants to call 911 on landing, to assure they are OK. After all,
occasionally, someone does get hurt in a landout, so they must respond if
called.

Could save someone else if the emergency crews are diverted to a
non-emegency.

Better yet, CD's should contact emergency authorities before a contest
starts and give them a briefing about glider outlandings...

rj