Mid-air collisions:
In principle the glider pilot has a smaller probability of having a mid-air collison when flying than a collision when driving because flight occurs in 3 dimension whereas the car is constrained to move in 2 dimensions. However this advantage is lost because pilots often fail to maintain a continuous scan for other aircraft while they are distracted reading maps, adjusting instruments, etc which can take a minute or more. In addition, aircraft typically converge at higher velocities and are difficult to spot because they approach from 3 dimensions. Since mid-air collisions are relatively rare the pilot can be seduced into complacency and into failing to continuously scan for traffic. The following are recent examples of recent glider collisions.
1) February 6, 2010:, Boulder CO: A Cirrus aircraft ran into a Pawnee towing a Schweizer 2-32 over Boulder. The 2 Cirrus occupants plus the Pawnee pilot were killed. Fortunately the Glider pilot released from the tow on seeing the collision so he and his two passengers landed safely.
2) 28 November 2009, Crazy Creek, CA: An ASW27 collided with the Pawnee tow plane as they turned onto final and both pilots were killed. Like Dansville, the power traffic used a left-hand pattern while the glider traffic a right-hand pattern. Prior to the head-on collision they did not communicate nor see each other.
3) 14 June 2009 Oxfordshire: A RAF Tutor training aircraft ran into a glider. The glider pilot parachuted to safety, the 2 power pilots were killed.
4) 15 January 2009; New York: An Airbus 320 collided with a flock of geese and ditched in the Hudson. Sully the pilot was a glider pilot.
5) 2006 Minden CA: A descending private jet collided with a thermalling ASG29. The glider pilot parachuted to safety while the jet made a safe emergency landing.
6) Paul Adriance gives a candid account of the April 1, 2004 midair collision between his Libelle and Wil Burhen's DG400. Paul managed to parachute to safety but Wil was killed. Please consider Paul's comments when soaring the ridge.
7) The current South African open class champion (John McLachlan) and national team member (Dieter Hiress) both were killed following a collision during the Free State Regional Championships on April 12.
8) Alan Purnell, a 10,000 hour soaring pilot , was killed April 26 in a mid-air collision near Lasham England. The other pilot baled out safely over woodland.
The loss of four highly experienced soaring pilots due tothe last three mid-air collisions occurred during one month which is tragic, and unacceptable. The implications are obvious regarding the need for each of us to maintain a vigilant scan for other sailplanes when soaring. The use of parachutes minimizes loss of life.