THE SCOPE OF SAFETY Are you prepared Andre Nadeau on why — <strong>and</strong> how — you should prepare for an accident Nobody ever plans on having an accident. I certainly did not when I tree-l<strong>and</strong>ed my paraglider in 1999 (was it that long ago already), or when I crashed my paraglider in the Dominican Republic in 2005. (You can find both <strong>of</strong> those fascinating accounts at http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/lab/5038/Storiespics/stories.htm — but I digress.) My point is that accidents can happen. The question is: Are you ready for it I bet many pilots are not ready for it. OK, I know that many pilots are not ready for it! I just have to look at what they are wearing to know that much. I have seen many pilots <strong>of</strong> there. I shudder to think about the suffering a person would experience if stuck in a tree all night long — talk about mosquito buffet. Of course, preparation is not limited to proper clothing. I have read many articles in the past <strong>and</strong> in many diverse magazines about the equipment pilots should carry with them while flying. Yet, I know some pilots who have ignored such advice so far <strong>and</strong> do not carry anything at all. I suppose it is OK during a competition if you have a chase crew properly equipped <strong>and</strong> religiously following you, but those are exceptions because few pilots ever fly in such circumstances. in flight to make sure I have a reserve. I also carry a spare bottle <strong>of</strong> water in my paraglider harness, although not in my hang gliding harness for lack <strong>of</strong> space. The next item is a multi-purpose utility knife. These knives are very h<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong> not only during emergencies. I have used mine many times at launch or around the winch systems to tackle a last-minute equipment problem. Although such knives can cost more than a hundred dollars, I have seen many $9.99 specials at Canadian Tire over the years that are perfectly adequate. At that price, there is no excuse not to have one <strong>of</strong> those little h<strong>and</strong>y tools around. The three previous items are useful in “Remember that all <strong>of</strong> these items are useless if you cannot get to them when you need them.” fly in s<strong>and</strong>als, T-shirts <strong>and</strong> shorts. Now, I am not saying those outfits are not appropriate in some circumstances, such as dune soaring on the beach at Nags Head, N.C. S<strong>and</strong>als, T-shirts <strong>and</strong> shorts might just be the best clothing at Nags Head, but I cannot really say, because I have never been there. No, where I have seen pilots wearing these types <strong>of</strong> outfits is over all sorts <strong>of</strong> terrain including forest, jungle, rocky terrain, etc. This is not a problem if you can guarantee that you will always l<strong>and</strong> in a clean LZ, but, as I have myself demonstrated, there are no such guarantees in life. I always wear boots, pants <strong>and</strong> a jacket, no matter how warm it is outside. I made a conscious decision to do so from recommendations in accident reports in my early flying days. At the time, it seemed like perfectly reasonable advice. Now, it seems like a nobrainer, because that practice saved me from major discomfort when my tree l<strong>and</strong>ing occurred. Wearing a pair <strong>of</strong> shorts <strong>and</strong> a T-shirt would likely have resulted in some injuries while I was climbing down the tree. Wearing s<strong>and</strong>als would have invited a sprained ankle or two while walking back to civilization through rough terrain. Probably worse, I would have been devoured by mosquitoes during the two hours it took me to get out Therefore, I see it as my duty to refresh pilot’s memory in these matters — assuming, <strong>of</strong> course, that some pilots actually reading my columns. The site, terrain, ground cover <strong>and</strong> the planned flight dictate what a pilot should carry. Some equipment would be useless in some scenario <strong>and</strong> very useful in others. However, there are pieces <strong>of</strong> equipment that are useful in most circumstances. First thing’s first: pilots should carry a first-aid kit. At a minimum, the kit should include the basics, such as some antiseptic towels <strong>and</strong> B<strong>and</strong>-Aids. Some painkillers <strong>and</strong> a triangular b<strong>and</strong>age to immobilize a broken limb are also useful. I carry a small first-aid kit in my harness <strong>and</strong> have used it quite regularly for myself <strong>and</strong> for other pilots. The last time was last May after a wind gust caught my wing <strong>and</strong> dragged me a couple <strong>of</strong> feet on the ground on a launch in the Las Vegas area, resulting in a torn pair <strong>of</strong> pants <strong>and</strong> a bloody knee. A few minutes <strong>of</strong> mending my knee, <strong>and</strong> I was good to go. Some water is also a necessity in most flights where there is a possibility a pilot may be str<strong>and</strong>ed for an extended duration – a tree l<strong>and</strong>ing in rough terrain comes to mind. The hotter <strong>and</strong> dryer the climate, the more important water is. I personally always fly with a full camelback <strong>and</strong> use it sparingly most all circumstances. Other items are more specialized. Certainly, I would not think <strong>of</strong> flying over forested area without some thin line that I could lower to the ground to help a rescue effort. I would not fly over cold, inhospitable terrain without a space blanket <strong>and</strong> some way to light a fire. And bug juice is an essential when flying anywhere bugs can be a problem. Of course, communication is also important. Most pilots I know carry a cellphone. Given that most people feel naked without one nowadays, that is no great feat, but it is a prudent measure nevertheless. Of course, a cellphone is not very useful outside <strong>of</strong> coverage areas, so another means <strong>of</strong> communication may be necessary. Furthermore, a cellphone does nothing to figure out your location, so carrying a map — or, even better, a GPS — may be in order. I am personally interested in the new SPOT personal locator beacon to replace the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) in my ultralight, <strong>and</strong> I will be looking at it closely. This column only touched on some <strong>of</strong> the items you may wish to carry with you. Obviously, there are others <strong>and</strong> it is up to you to decide what they should be. Regardless <strong>of</strong> what you carry, remember that all <strong>of</strong> these items are useless if you cannot get to them when you need them. Pack accordingly. 30 AIR MAGAZINE | JULY <strong>2008</strong>
A PERFECT DAY AT SALTSPRING ISLAND by jayson biggins
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