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Section 7
Dangerous situations and extreme flying
07 Dangerous situations
and extreme flying
Dangerous situations
Pilot error, extreme wind conditions or
turbulence which the pilot does not notice
quickly enough may put the wing in an
unusual flying position, requiring special
reaction and skills on the part of the pilot.
The best way to learn how to react calmly
and correctly in a serious situation is to
attend safety training, where you will learn
how to manage extreme situations under
the guidance of a professional.
Ground-training
is
another
safe
and
effective method of familiarising yourself
with your glider’s reactions. Launch can be
practised, as can small flying manoeuvres,
such as stall, asymmetric collapse, front
stall etc.
Any pilot who flies in turbulent conditions or
who makes an error in handling the glider is
at risk of getting into an extreme situation.
All of the extreme flight figures and flight
attitudes described here are dangerous if
they are carried out with inadequate
knowledge, without the right safety altitude
or without training.
Please note that all of the manoeuvres
described in this Manual were carried out for
the purposes of the type-test certification
with a GH harness with a carabiner distance
(centre to centre) of 42 cm.
If a different harness is used, flight
behaviour may vary from that described in
this Manual.
Safety training
Taking part in safety training is in principle
advisable in order to familiarise yourself with
your glider and the correct reactions in
extreme situations. However, safety training
also subjects your equipment to extreme
loads.
Material stress and damage
SWING advises against subjecting the
materials of the APUS RS to excessive
stress during a safety training (SIV) course.
Uncontrolled flight positions can occur
during safety training, which are outside the
manufacturer’s limits for the paraglider and
which can put the glider under excessive
stress.
Trimming the line lengths and canopy
material after safety training can lead to a
general deterioration in flight characteristics.
Damage as a result of safety training is not
covered by the warranty.
WARNING
These instructions are not a substitute
for the need for safety training. We
therefore recommend that you take part
in special safety training which will teach
you how to handle extreme situations.
WARNING
Always keep within the recommended
limits. Avoid aerobatics and extreme
loading such as spirals and big ears. This
will prevent accidents and avoid over-
loading the glider.
In turbulent conditions, always keep
enough distance from rock faces and
other obstacles. Time and sufficient
altitude are needed to recover from
extreme situations.
Deploy your reserve if the corrective
manoeuvres described in the following
sections do not return the glider to a
controllable flying position or if there is not
enough altitude for correction.
