Northern Rivers Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Club

The NRHGPGC safety committee encourages all members to self-report any accidents or incidents as required in the SAFA Ops Manual. The issue is, this is NOT happening. SAFA does not receive many reports from NRHGPGC members. The SAFA Ops Manual also states, “If a pilot witnessing an accident or incident is uncertain as to whether or not the accident or incident has been reported, he/she should report the accident or incident”.

When the NRHGPGC lowered the site ratings from PG4 to PG3 for Montes, Possums and Numulgi (so more members could access these sites) the NRHGPGC needs to ensure that there is no increase in incidents or accidents as a result of the lowered site rating, possibly putting members, especially low ait time pilots at risk. It was also agreed that the NRHGPGC would encourage and reinforce that incident reporting needed to be more transparent. The site ratings are constantly re-assessed by the safety committee and if it is identified that the site rating needs to be changed it will be.  

The NRHGPGC Safety Committee will review all accidents and incidents with the SOLE intention of preventing a similar occurrence. Where a report has been made to the NRHGPGC and the safety committee recommends it should be reported to SAFA then a report will be made on the AIRS system by the SSO if the member has not already done so.     

It is not beneficial for the club to find out months later there was an accident/incident reported to SAFA. We need to ensure that the accident is not a site-related issue, including supervision or lack thereof to prevent it from happening again.       

Not all ‘Incident reports’ need to be reported to SAFA. A pilot top landing on the short grass at Lennox and the SO/SSO having to remind the pilot for example. If the pilot has been warned previously a record of this incident needs to be made.   

The Revolutionise Sport website is designed for sporting clubs and has many National and State Clubs as clients. It manages privacy and meets all legislative requirements especially when it involves injury reporting. Consent is obtained from the pilot in command to record any injury details, at the moment this is after the incident/accident, and we have included this on new member registration. Member privacy is of great concern and only the Safety Committee/NRHGPGC Exec have access to the reports. If it is the recommendation of the Safety Committee to report an incident back to the Club the member's details are de-identified, ie: safety report at a club meeting. 

Historically, it has been common practice for the member involved in an accident/incident to openly discuss the circumstances of the accident/incident at the club meeting so other members may learn from the pilot’s experience. This is still encouraged, taking into consideration member privacy. (member privacy has not been questioned in the past) and most members are happy to discuss their accident and it has become a valuable learning tool.  Some have even self-reported/reflected on their accident/incident on the NRHGPGC telegram group.           

The Montes Emergency LZ as it is referred to is in fact a “NO LANDING AREA”. The landowners do not give us permission to land on their property.

The site guide outlines a Special Condition, “Any landings between launch and the designated bomb out must be reported to the club site representative. Landing directly below the launch is not advised and should be used for emergency landing only. If you are forced to land below launch, the conditions are right and you have the skill/experience to try and land on the spur (be aware of the power line running up the spur), pack up quickly and walk up the hill past the new house.”

The club needs to maintain a register of pilots who land in this area. (not the spur) The register is an online Document found on the (secured to members only) pilot resource section of the website. The register records very basic details, Name, rating, Supervisor if required and any contributing factors that lead to the pilot landing in the “NO LANDING AREA.”     

If a pilot makes a decision to conduct an ‘Emergency landing’ in the ‘No Landing  Area’ they are encouraged to complete the form so the club can manage pilot safety, pilot education and landowner complaints.

Members need to be reminded that the term “Emergency Landing Area’ in aviation is a serious issue. Pilots should not make the decision on launch, that it is possibly a bit light, and they will launch and see if they can scratch up, and if they can’t get up just conduct an emergency landing. There could be consequences for landing in this area. We will review the site guide and update members when we can. Please stop considering the area under Montes launch as an alternate landing area. It is NO LANDING and if a decision is made to conduct an Emergency Landing, then the Pilot is encouraged to register that landing.

An emergency landing is:

The landing was of a genuine emergency nature (this would include:
descent under reserve parachute, forced landing due to significant structural failure/damage, forced landing due to loss of flying control)
Note that poor piloting decisions or flying instrument failure do not contribute to having a landing classified as an “emergency”.

Most of our sites are private property and require new members to be inducted.

A UHF Radio must be carried - Ch.19 tone squelch 97.4 or 11 at all Coastal Sites and Ch.20 tone squelch 97.4 or 11 for all inland launch sites. 

Please visit the Pilot Resource section if you are unsure how to change the tone squelch. 

Lennox Head & Numulgi have mandatory VHF requirements under CASA EX123/21 – Northern Rivers Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Incorporated – Broadcasting Exemptions and Directions Instrument 2021. 

Pilots MUST 'check in' and 'out' when entering and leaving some sites.
The 'check links' can be found here and on the Telegram Notice Board.

Important Information:

Lennox Head (Ballina Broadcast area) 

Site Rating: PG4 / HG4

PG2 may only fly under the Direct Supervision of a Senior Safety Officer (SSO) or Senior Supervising Officer (SSO#).
PG3 may only fly under the on-site supervision of a Senior Safety Officer (SSO) or Senior Supervising Officer (SSO#).

All other club sites: PG3 / HG3

Pilots must have attended a Site Induction carried out by an SSO/SSO#  Once that has been completed you will be recorded as being Inducted to the site which will be reflected on the member's list.

Only After you have been inducted can you fly. 

PG2 may only fly under the on-site supervision of a Senior Safety Officer (SSO) or Senior Supervising Officer (SSO#).

PG3 may only fly when a Duty Pilot has been nominated and briefed.  

Duty Pilot: When there are no safety Officers Present a Duty Pilot must be elected. A Duty pilot must be a full club member,  PG4/HG4> with prior experience at that site in hang gliders or paragliders that are the same type of aircraft being supervised. 

Telegram:

We communicate using the Flying Updates Telegram Group or the NRHGPGC Notice Board. 

Both are required as part of membership to the club as that's where important information is posted, especially now 3 of our sites have mandatory check-ins that you may not be aware of.

Members are required to follow this link and join the >>>>>>>>>> NRHGPGC FLYING UPDATES TELEGRAM GROUP <<<<<<<<<< where flying updates are broadcast as well as any urgent site-related issues. 

You should also follow this link and join the >>>>>>>>>> NRHGPGC NOTICE BOARD <<<<<<<<<<  which is a great place for new members to get up-to-date information. You will find the list of people that may need to supervise you as well as a record of who has been inducted and to what site. 

Please familiarise yourself with the Code of Conduct attached.