norman

Does anyone have a FF harness tucked away suitable for a 5'4" pilot?

Must be fully servicable and have back protection.

norman@pfm-fts.com

Thanks in advance!

Norman

Simon,

That is excellent, thank you. I will feel a bit like Father Christmas in December I think.

Dave,

Thanks for that, to the best of my knowledge no, he doesn't have one. He has made a ground handling harness out of bits of strapping and a couple of krabs but has not got as far as navigation yet though that is clearly 'on the near horizon'. It would be very welcome.

Blog Update

This is the wing your contributions have gone towards gents.

Great suggestion TJ, 'like the bit about Anglesey & Airprox - topical.

Alan, amazing!

How could you have guessed that he doesn't have is own hat? PM on the way, thankyou.

Wait till he reads this!

OK TJ,

A preview. This is just a single page, a first draft from the Met section. Click on the graphic.

This isn't stuff that you need to know, it's just background to help the subject along.

Guys,

I am meeting up with Karan in Hyderabad during early December. If anyone has any kit they feel they would like to donate now would be a good time to think about it. He was really knocked over by his wing, he reckons it jumps off the ground where the school wings he was using were a little reluctant sometimes.

Literally anything as he is gathering his clan around him to kick off MHASC and your contribution will not get wasted. I am still scratching my head trying to work out how to put a motor together, the one we had lined isn't suitable unfortunately. Any ideas?

Karan flew 7 times yesterday at Pune and is well on his way now. As soon as I get pictures I will post them on his blog.

norman@pfm-fts.com

Its free, really comprehensive and well worth a good long visit.

Navigation Exercise preparation/Flying Field activity

Register under your own name and use it routinely and it auto-logs your presence proving, should ever you need to, that you have engaged in a pre-flight planning process either as an individual or as a group.

'Sure you don't want to bother to take a spin around your local area but going further afield and perhaps engaging in a little aeronautical research it is a powerful facility.

http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/fwf-natsu ... ?page=home

These are not a bad start, a moe comprehensive list is coming out soon and later our own books, Ground Studies for PPG. There will be two volumes but they will not be out until the back side of next year.

Somerset!

We have a group set up but it is sort of operating from diverse locations. I don't have any time at the moment to join group activities other than the ones I plan with Piers, Patrick Brook and Matt Boley, I wish it were not so as we have flying fields available around my home location. As the winter and my PPG flying progresses I will increasingly fly from around the Yeovilton area. I reckon by early 2010 I shopuld be up there quite regularly weather permitting.

If you are flying beneath the CTA in the vicinity of the VRPs - Visual Reference Points, expect others to be doing the same.

Thanks Phil, just the job. Looking back I kinda' think that vicinity covers that but you make a good point. One of the 'benefits' of GPS is that with the precise tracking available it makes a 'hit' more likely if everyone keeps to prescribed tracks and waypoints/positions.

All over the world where this factor prevails and the quality of ATC is a questionable or 'unannounced' traffic is a possibility (much the same thing - Africa) we fly 1-2 mile offsets to take care of that factor. It makes good sense in our arena here too. Hence the suggestion.

PM on the way btw. I have an idea who would make the perfect Regulations & Airspace Member don't you?

http://pfm-fts.com/mountainhawknepal/

Karan has returned to Pune to complete his training. He was delayed by an illness in the family and had to return to Nepal. This time he will be flying his own wing, an Oasis M that was purchased with funds raised from sponsorship and donations here.

More to follow as the flying restarts.

I am still trying to get some harder information about this issue and awaiting replies from a couple of sources. Until then I will post up what I know to get the ball rolling.

If you fly in the Liverpool area proximate to the CTA/TMA this might interest you.

There has been an approach from a representative of Liverpool ATC asking us to help publicise the airspace dimensions around Liverpool so that incursions by paramotors become less likely. At this stage I am not sure that anything has happened to prompt this approach or whether proactive steps are being taken to prevent occurrences.

This graphic came from the NATS website, it may not include recent airspace changes, I am checking to see if there are any published in the system.

If you are flying beneath the CTA in the vicinity of the VRPs - Visual Reporting Points, expect others to be doing the same. Spend a little time studying the graphic, it makes sense after a while.

Still waiting for someone to step forward (possibly a PPL holder or higher ) who might have an interest in stuff like this and take our response to the next step. A new 'Regulations & Airspace Member'? This sort of thing is fairly typical of what that role entails.

Not at all Phil,

Ordinarily you would be right about bands of highest aerial activity. Valley is different in that they train intensively both at low level and with ACMs at low-med-high which fills the entire airspace block. They transit at 250-500' to the exercise area then climb for upper air exercises then poke off home at low level again extracting all the value they can from every trip. This really is an AIAA, the busiest in the UK.

Not much in the way of restricted airspace, plenty in the way of traffic though...

shaggydec,

I have just (10:05/02nd Oct) been talking to the Duty Supervisor (ATC RAF Valley) about the questions raised above. He has validated all I have laid out in my post.

Use the number provided entering the extension when asked for by the auto operator, this takes you straight to the supervisors desk where you can pass details of your planned activities.

When he has these details he rings the squadrons where their briefers will update the days 'Activities Board' which crews use in preparation for their sorties. They then avoid your area of operations. They will work at keeping you clear of their MATZ if you are non-VHF (airband) but only a loon would dawdle close to Valley's manor wouldn't he?

Peace of mind is a wonderful thing but it needs effort to achieve it.

Great advice from Phil, I would go further due to the nature of Valley's activities.

Were I operating anywhere in Anglesey either during, just prior, or just after RAF Valley's operating hours I would talk direct to Valley ATC and let them know the details of my activities. I would make the call either the night before or on the day I intended to fly giving them time to include me on the activities boards they use to brief their crews.

Tel: 01407- 672241 Ext: -7462 (Supervisors Desk)

If your activities are local to the island and proximate mainland - make the call, they will thank you for it.

Fast jet students and QFIs both operate under a high workload as you know and any forewarning is really useful. You don't have to hit more than three paramotors in a quick pointy thing to make your eyes water, join Martin Baker's special club and ruin someone's back garden. As others have said, they don't even need to hit you to produce a record heart rate and an unscheduled reserve repack. Trust me, that close in (to their terminal area) they will be interested...

Am I legal?

This is the interesting point, if you are outside their ATZ and any notified airspace then yes, you are legal but don't take my word for it. Pull out a current quarter/half mill and check. Legal isn't always safe as the condom advertisers will confirm.

A workable compromise is emerging, great!

Hirth? Love it on the Monster. It purrs and is very quiet I gather, not that I have heard it fly myself having been sitting in it at the time. Very reliable, low revving but some say it is a tad thirsty.

A view was expressed, it remained for a while and people read it. Then it was decided that defaming manufacturers was not a thing to be encouraged, whether there was actual guilt or not.

I don't think an opinion of kit is a bad thing, that IS to be encouraged but what we saw here was a definite recommendation NOT to buy because of perceived failings in product support. A bit different in my view...

Stating facts and truths are not actionable as Phil P mentioned. You cannot be done for slander under those circumstance ... but who wants a court case defending a defamation accusation? THAT is surely the question, not necessarily the legality of an issue or otherwise.

This removal was not an arbitrary action in order to censor or control, it was thought about...

I think this was tough call for Simon requiring some trust and understanding from members.

I am a moderator here and occasionally remove adverts for Viagra and Cialis along with the occasional ranting pratt. There have been occasions where we have had to consider other issues and threads but have let them run for a while to see if resolution could be found between parties, thankfully that often happens.

I have to say that I left this one for Simon due to its sensitivity but we did discuss it before it was removed.

I can't tell you what the Law would do should a targeted manufacturer decide that enough was enough, but I can say that in the same position as Simon I would protect my personal interests by doing the safe thing. In my view (FWIW) he did the right thing but like us all appreciate and respect the counter view.

Felix,

What a ghastly story, I am sure Simon's response was rhetorical. If I look across the faces of ALL of the PMC instructors we have trained I can tell you without further consideration that none of them would have treated a customer and fellow paramotorist that way.

Regulations and Airspace Member

Regulations

The regulatory environment within UK changes slowly and incrementaly with time. PPG is an unregulated sport but it may not always remain so. We need to stay abreast of developments, understand fully the current framework that we operate within and have a man on the ground who is able to discuss issues with the authorities should changes come across the horizon.

Members need to be able to talk to someone who has their finger on the issues and can advise from a platform of knowledge.

Airspace

Our airspace becomes busier every year, most stakeholders who uses the sky have a representative to listen to the jungle drums and be available for a pow-wow should we face changes that might affect our freedoms. The BHPA have been active in this area and done some fine work over the years, we need to be able to make our voice heard, participate and assist. Mandatory transponder introduction in some airspace blocks, exclusion for those not equipped and further airspace reservations and restrictions are changes that in view now. We need someone to research and fully understand the issues, perhaps get to know the personalities involved and be interested enough to keep us all up to date with developments.

This job just needs someone who is fascinated by the questions and keen to get involved. We have the resources to facilitate learning and involvement. The RAF and Civil systems are keen to engage at a grass roots level where they can see benefit from that effort. We have seen a little of this from the RAF Lynham visit, there is more to come.

This job is as much about education as it is about representation. We want our guys to be among the most informed and aware PPG pilots out there. It's amazing how much knowledge dispels fear, how peace of mind is a pre-requisite to relaxation into the sport.

Flight Safety Member

This slot sounds more daunting than it is though it will have its moments.

Curiosity and interest in the whole field of ground and flight safety are the only essential ingredient. You don't need to be an industry safety expert, just interested enough to get involved and learn as you go along. Any engineering, analytical or investigative experience is likely to contribute significantly to the role.

You will work closely with the Engineering Member where his experience will add a valuable perspective. We have a contact within the Civil Aviation safety system that may be able to help with specialist advice and training.

Primary areas of concern:

• Ground Safety - PMC
  Flight Safety - PMC
  Analysing incidents and accidents from published data and reports to extract value.
  Liaison with the BHPA opposite number/Reporting System on behalf of the PMC - fostering a professional relationship with them and the AAIB where appropriate.
  Monitoring the industry and reporting news and trends to members.
  Developing and propagating the safety culture within the PMC by any available means.

Set you thinking?

Alan Hunter has volunteered to become our Engineering Member. Details in the Full Members area.

Thanks Alan and congratulations!

Ahh, Franglais as she is spoken in 'Allo, Allo'.

Perfect!