Introduce yourself
01-31-2013, 09:46 AM
#2212
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Posts: 2
I am a Late Bloomer, Civil Engineer working in the field related to Airfield Design and Construction. The only flying experience I have personally is with a flexible wing wind powered paraglider, actually 3 different ones. Injured last May in a flying accident where on approach I was cought up in a dust devil just kicking off.
I had gear down (legs out of the harness) and was on a 15 degree glide slope in the crosswindleg of a typical aircraft landing approach - typical for paragliders. as I made my attempt to turn to my final upwind leg, the dynamics of the dust devil (thermal initiating under super adiabatic conditions making it a dust devil) kept me from making that turn and I began flying in a 90 degree bank straight toward my wing. Normal flight would be parallel to my wing and straight down below it rather than straight behind it on a coincidental line). Needless to say this is not a form of flight I had been prepared for, nor as the design of this aircraft certified for this condition. I kept cool and remained in the mode of acting piloting (keeping both sides of the wing inflated by keeping the brake pressure even). This is the standard technique to get through various strong turbulent conditions while remaining oriented below the wig with it inflated. Geting to the point, 15 seconds later I was pendulumed staight upward, causing my lines to go slach and allowing my wing to turn 180 degrees, straight down while my momentum carried me up another 10-20 feet. Luckily I had a bit of angular momentum which continued to turn me as I peaked in elevation then continued under the force of gravity to the ground. Observers estimate 30-50 feet. I was fortunate in that I survived with only a back injury (4 vertebrae fractured, no major spinal cord damage) and the heel of my left foot becoming several time its normal width. While in bed and confined to a wheel chair for months I became determined to find ways to make pilots of all kinds safer. Since I work with many pilots at the Base I work on which is a joint use Airfield, and I am involved in the design and construction of Airfield infrastructure involving BASH, Navaides, NOTAMS, localiser, PAPIS, etc., I am very curious to get input from the pilots using those systems, in order to make them safer. I have found a great degree of difference in interpretation of Both FAA circulars and DOD UFCrequirements and often could use the input from an actual pilot in determining if an issue is worth taking to the next level. For instance the visual glide path indicator on a project was moved in construcino and I brought it to the attention of others it seemed dangerous to move the position alomost 300 feet without approval. I ended up in hot water just for asking about it and pointing out that possibly a NOTAM should be issued. I hope this type of iinterest in not considered non apropriatefor this forum. I do hope to continue flying again and will possibly have to change over to a powered aircraft becaus of my injuries. A good foot landing I could take but anything less than perfect and I will be unable to handle witout injury to my rebuilt back and foot. I may be looking at a powered paaraglider with a small wheeled attachment to the harness that some people have worked out for use by injured pilots in the past. I know a man who lost both legs right below the knee who flyies hang gliders and another who can still take launch and land a hang glider with only one leg. He has to count on a perfect landing and if not must suffer the consequences. I just want to get back in the sky where I found those poetic words about never being the same after being up there, were true for me. I have yearned to fly again since I last reached the ground. I have soared alongside hawks and climbed in thermals to over a mile above the earth. I have touched the clouds and been blessed many times. I believe doing it a little safer is a good thing. I want to make it safer for all pilots, not just myself.
bjsmiths333 - friends call me bronco bill
I had gear down (legs out of the harness) and was on a 15 degree glide slope in the crosswindleg of a typical aircraft landing approach - typical for paragliders. as I made my attempt to turn to my final upwind leg, the dynamics of the dust devil (thermal initiating under super adiabatic conditions making it a dust devil) kept me from making that turn and I began flying in a 90 degree bank straight toward my wing. Normal flight would be parallel to my wing and straight down below it rather than straight behind it on a coincidental line). Needless to say this is not a form of flight I had been prepared for, nor as the design of this aircraft certified for this condition. I kept cool and remained in the mode of acting piloting (keeping both sides of the wing inflated by keeping the brake pressure even). This is the standard technique to get through various strong turbulent conditions while remaining oriented below the wig with it inflated. Geting to the point, 15 seconds later I was pendulumed staight upward, causing my lines to go slach and allowing my wing to turn 180 degrees, straight down while my momentum carried me up another 10-20 feet. Luckily I had a bit of angular momentum which continued to turn me as I peaked in elevation then continued under the force of gravity to the ground. Observers estimate 30-50 feet. I was fortunate in that I survived with only a back injury (4 vertebrae fractured, no major spinal cord damage) and the heel of my left foot becoming several time its normal width. While in bed and confined to a wheel chair for months I became determined to find ways to make pilots of all kinds safer. Since I work with many pilots at the Base I work on which is a joint use Airfield, and I am involved in the design and construction of Airfield infrastructure involving BASH, Navaides, NOTAMS, localiser, PAPIS, etc., I am very curious to get input from the pilots using those systems, in order to make them safer. I have found a great degree of difference in interpretation of Both FAA circulars and DOD UFCrequirements and often could use the input from an actual pilot in determining if an issue is worth taking to the next level. For instance the visual glide path indicator on a project was moved in construcino and I brought it to the attention of others it seemed dangerous to move the position alomost 300 feet without approval. I ended up in hot water just for asking about it and pointing out that possibly a NOTAM should be issued. I hope this type of iinterest in not considered non apropriatefor this forum. I do hope to continue flying again and will possibly have to change over to a powered aircraft becaus of my injuries. A good foot landing I could take but anything less than perfect and I will be unable to handle witout injury to my rebuilt back and foot. I may be looking at a powered paaraglider with a small wheeled attachment to the harness that some people have worked out for use by injured pilots in the past. I know a man who lost both legs right below the knee who flyies hang gliders and another who can still take launch and land a hang glider with only one leg. He has to count on a perfect landing and if not must suffer the consequences. I just want to get back in the sky where I found those poetic words about never being the same after being up there, were true for me. I have yearned to fly again since I last reached the ground. I have soared alongside hawks and climbed in thermals to over a mile above the earth. I have touched the clouds and been blessed many times. I believe doing it a little safer is a good thing. I want to make it safer for all pilots, not just myself.
bjsmiths333 - friends call me bronco bill
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