Discipline
Paragliding XC
What do we want ?
A better way to handle airspaces with a vertical ceiling that pilots fly under during competitions.
I've had a similar issue twice during competitions in Colombia this winter :
There is a relatively low imposed altitude ceiling over the whole competition area and strong thermals (2400m in Roldanillo in this case).
As the leading gaggle cannot see the airmass, it tries to leave thermals with enough margin to not exceed the imposed ceiling. If the margin wasn't big enough, ten or more pilots are now climbing at three to five meters per second and are all about to get severely penalized. The only solution, for all of them, is to go into a deep spiral right away or violate the airspace.
In my case, spiraling down hard, barely losing any altitude and seeing other pilots doing the same less than fifty meters away from me wasn't a pleasant experience and was really dangerous. I'd like to avoid encountering these kinds of situations in future events.
Note: The ceiling mentioned here is typically the floor of the actual airspace, but for us pilots it feels more like a ceiling, hence the use of the term.
I've had a similar issue twice during competitions in Colombia this winter :
There is a relatively low imposed altitude ceiling over the whole competition area and strong thermals (2400m in Roldanillo in this case).
As the leading gaggle cannot see the airmass, it tries to leave thermals with enough margin to not exceed the imposed ceiling. If the margin wasn't big enough, ten or more pilots are now climbing at three to five meters per second and are all about to get severely penalized. The only solution, for all of them, is to go into a deep spiral right away or violate the airspace.
In my case, spiraling down hard, barely losing any altitude and seeing other pilots doing the same less than fifty meters away from me wasn't a pleasant experience and was really dangerous. I'd like to avoid encountering these kinds of situations in future events.
Note: The ceiling mentioned here is typically the floor of the actual airspace, but for us pilots it feels more like a ceiling, hence the use of the term.
How do we achieve that ?
I believe a really simple solution can be discussed and implemented : add a vertical buffer to avoid actually infringing airspace ceilings and apply the same rules as those used for cloud flying.
Similarly to when a pilot is being unexpectedly sucked into a cloud, a pilot not being able to avoid climbing into the buffer could keep flying straight until it becomes safe to descend and lose the advantage he gained by getting too high.
Losing the advantage would be very similar again. Go off the task route, ensure there are no pilots directly below you and spiral down below the ceiling.
I believe that this could work really well as the altitude of the buffer is known by everyone who attended the briefing and can be checked on instruments whereas for all cloud flying incidents, the actual height of the cloudbase must be discussed, proven with video etc...
I also believe this could solve similar issues happening before the start and would leave pilots a bit of time to lose altitude.
One downside is that in an area where the airspace is already limited, the buffer would bring the ceiling down even more. For example, in my example regarding Roldanillo, a 100m buffer would have brought the actual ceiling to only 2300m.
Fifty or one hundred meters seems reasonable and it could vary. If the actual airspace is infringed, the same penalties as today can be applied. To implement this, competition organizers would simply have to tweak airspace files so that some airspaces are N meters lower.
On top of all this, it could ensure that most competition organizers use airspace buffers and that actual airspaces are not infringed as often.
Similarly to when a pilot is being unexpectedly sucked into a cloud, a pilot not being able to avoid climbing into the buffer could keep flying straight until it becomes safe to descend and lose the advantage he gained by getting too high.
Losing the advantage would be very similar again. Go off the task route, ensure there are no pilots directly below you and spiral down below the ceiling.
I believe that this could work really well as the altitude of the buffer is known by everyone who attended the briefing and can be checked on instruments whereas for all cloud flying incidents, the actual height of the cloudbase must be discussed, proven with video etc...
I also believe this could solve similar issues happening before the start and would leave pilots a bit of time to lose altitude.
One downside is that in an area where the airspace is already limited, the buffer would bring the ceiling down even more. For example, in my example regarding Roldanillo, a 100m buffer would have brought the actual ceiling to only 2300m.
Fifty or one hundred meters seems reasonable and it could vary. If the actual airspace is infringed, the same penalties as today can be applied. To implement this, competition organizers would simply have to tweak airspace files so that some airspaces are N meters lower.
On top of all this, it could ensure that most competition organizers use airspace buffers and that actual airspaces are not infringed as often.
Comments
This point came up at the PWC in Turkey this year. I believe all pilots need to fly to the conditions presented.
If you are in a +8 you should not take the thermal up to within 100m of the limit. Some did and they broke airspace. Then they complained that it was dangerous to spiral down because the conditions were rough - which I agree with. But treating the symptom (people in airspace) is not the solution. The buffer you mention that should be set by the committee is what the pilots should have set themselves. I personally set - 300m below the ceiling. I left early and had no altitude issues. The buffer cannot be set on the ground hours before the task - it must be dynamically assessed throughout the race and adjusted accordingly. Racing isn't just a measure of speed but of full spectrum captaincy - which includes airspace anticipation for wind/lift etc.
In reply to This point came up at the… by christiaandurrant
I agree that pilots should keep a comfortable margin, and this is easily doable when you see people in front of you who stop climbing. When you're in the lead gaggle and the stakes are high however, this is something that can happen, whether it is in a thermal or in a blue convergence as Luc mentions below.
If I'm not mistaken, what you propose is actually in the rule with a 100m buffer (sportive airsapce lower) to the real zone. Organisers often ignore it.
In reply to If I'm not mistaken, what… by Julien Garcia
Yes, set the airspace 100m lower than the real one in the airspace file.
Note that if you touch the actual airsapce (not the buffer) you still have 0 for day. I understand it could be amended so you don't end up in silly situation everybody urging to go down
In many competitions, the altitude limit for pilots is set slightly below the official airspace boundary - for example, by 100 meters - so that only exceeding it by more than 100 meters (actually entering the official airspace) results in a 100% penalty. I believe this should be the standard practice.
I second Damien.
Other dangerous situation one would like to avoid living:
Being in a strong and powerfull blue sky convergeance line without knowing the exit and with an airspace ceiling. You are all pushing full speed to death but fail to find an exit and soon there is no more altitude margin to leave the bar for a spiral, as the resource will suck you to the end-of-comp penalty anyway. Your blood is full of adrenaline, you're ready for the all possible stupidity.
A zone with zero penalty but with possible compensation by loosing advantage afterwards is very welcome. Clever idea.
Interesting idea.
But how long are you allowed in the buffer area ?
Or how much points is it gonna cost ?
I think a mix of both: you loose points depending on how long you stay in the buffer.
In reply to Interesting idea. But how… by thibaultrohmer
I haven't thought about how much time you could be "allowed" in the buffer. It could be one parameter but it may complicate things.
I guess it would only make sense if you weren't to lose points if you can prove later that you lost your advantage, just like cloud flying. If you don't lose your advantage, then apply the same penalty as today ? Penalties seem to vary depending on competitions anyway.