[NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
Earl Haury
ejhaury at comcast.net
Thu Sep 27 06:57:43 AKDT 2007
I'm not so sure that the 10 deg offset is an answer to minimizing the risk
of mid-airs in that it ensures the flight paths cross each pass, possibly
more during center maneuvers. While some "timing" can reduce the same "on
center" conflict - different maneuver times make this difficult. My
observation of mid-airs at local meets suggests that they usually occur when
one airplane doesn't hold a consistent path, constantly moving in and out,
which result in numerous path crossings until a collision occurs. At the
Nats, where pilots of relatively equal skills are flying parallel at the
nearly the same distance, the situation changes to where they are often in
close proximity for the entire flight and yet there seem to be fewer
mid-airs / number of flights. Larger meets of the past often flew three
planes at the same time, while there were mid-airs, I don't recall them
being more than we now see.
"Trying" the offset idea may have merit, but if the continuous crossings
result in more mid-airs it will be an expensive experiment. I'd prefer to
let someone else develop this proof.
The only sure way to avoid any mid-airs is to fly one airplane at a time.
Earl
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. Mike Harrison" <drmikedds at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
> How could I forget? We had that discussion before it happened.
>
>
> Mike
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Wickizer" <mwickizer at msn.com>
> To: <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
>
>
>> You can add a Beryll and an Insight from this year to that list. We seem
>> to
>> have more than our share of mid-airs in D6.
>>
>>
>>>From: "Dr. Mike Harrison" <drmikedds at sbcglobal.net>
>>>Reply-To: NSRCA Mailing List <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>>>To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>>>Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
>>>Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:27:00 -0500
>>>
>>>Keith,
>>>I think the 10 degree offset has merit. I believe most fields can
>>>accommodate that. Make that 10'('-short for degree) for each pilot from
>>>runway, effecting a net 20' change. The centerline would be offset 10'
>>>each also.
>>>
>>>Also, another help is to separate the lines farther so that center
>>>manuevers do not overlap.
>>>
>>>It is easy enough for the CD at some contest somewhere to try. I would
>>>encourage it. I don't know of any contests we(you and I) have been to
>>>that
>>>this could not be implimented. I can think of 4 midairs that would have
>>>been avoided if this system were in place. You-2 midairs, Don Ramsey -1,
>>>Glen Watson-1. That is a loss in the last 3 years of 7 airplanes- about
>>>$14,000.
>>>
>>>I am all for this concept.
>>>
>>>Lets try it a t Crowley.
>>>
>>>Mike
>>>ps as far as previous comments that midairs are rare and a necessity of
>>>the
>>>sport, I disagree. They are all too common, they effect quality of
>>>flying,
>>>they are a stupid loss, and there has to be a reasonable way to avoid it.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Keith Black
>>> To: NSRCA Mailing List
>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 1:23 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
>>>
>>>
>>> The problem is that one avoidance caller can't do a good job and would
>>>sound the alarm too often due to the depth perception issue. A second
>>>caller (spotter) at the corner of the box would reduce alerts to a
>>>minimum
>>>and would probably allow the spotters to anticipate collisions much
>>>sooner.
>>>I think this is at least worth experimenting with.
>>>
>>> As to the offset paths, adequite offset paths are not possible at most
>>>fields due to fly-over issues and we're already flying off by 10 degrees
>>>as
>>>we go in and out constantly.
>>>
>>> As to agreeing who flies close and who flies near, I've tried this at
>>>practice an it's amazing how often two pilots still drift to common
>>>ground.
>>>Plus, this often would not be agreeable to both pilots.
>>>
>>> Keith
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: vicenterc at comcast.net
>>> To: NSRCA Mailing List ; NSRCA Mailing List
>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:52 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
>>>
>>>
>>> Probably the avoidance callers between both lines makes sense. He
>>>could be consider a third judge. If he sound the horn means that both
>>>pilots has the right to bail out and they can resume the fly. It has to
>>>be
>>>organized. The pilots flying in line A will be instructed to go down and
>>>cut the engine. The pilots in line B will be instructed to go up. Of
>>>course if they are rolling they will need to stop rolling. We need to
>>>think what needs to be done when we are flying vertical. It could be one
>>>bail to the right and the other bail to the left or just both cut
>>>engines.
>>>The avoidance judges will be the pilots that just finish their rounds.
>>>
>>> I don't think that the pilot's caller can pay attention to both
>>>planes. He is busy trying to help the pilot and reading the next
>>>manuever.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> --
>>> Vicente "Vince" Bortone
>>>
>>> -------------- Original message --------------
>>> From: "Dave Michael" <davidmichael1 at comcast.net>
>>>
>>> No- if it's obvious that you were in no danger of a mid-air then
>>> you
>>>get a zero.
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: J N Hiller
>>> To: NSRCA Mailing List
>>> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 6:17 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks, now I understand. If I didn't hit the other airplane I
>>>obviously didn't need to bail out and would receive a zero.
>>>
>>> Jim Hiller
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
>>>[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Dave
>>>Michael
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 7:39 PM
>>> To: NSRCA Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> No- you can't bail in this situation. It would be obvious to
>>> the
>>>judges and you'd receive a 0 on the manuever- and the next as well if you
>>>were to exit in the wrong direction or orientation for the next manuever.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>
>>>
>>> From: J N Hiller
>>>
>>> To: NSRCA Mailing List
>>>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 9:39 PM
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If I am in the process of hosing a maneuver can I bail out
>>> claming
>>>mid-air avoidance and re-fly it?
>>>
>>> I have only had one mid-air in pattern competition and that was
>>>pre-turnaround, on a turnaround over a quarter mile out. I had a close
>>>one
>>>this year I saw the other airplane go by and heard the gasps from behind
>>>without flinching. I flew in a Scale Masters finals competition once in
>>>LasVegas with five flight lines. I have gotten so I don't pay any
>>>attention
>>>to other airplanes when I am flying.
>>>
>>> I guess I would flinch plenty, maybe even crash if we were using
>>>that 140 DB air horn to warn of potential midairs.
>>>
>>> Jim Hiller
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
>>>[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Dave
>>>Michael
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 4:45 PM
>>> To: NSRCA Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I recall a discussion on this subject earlier in the year. My
>>>background is heavy IMAC but I am wanting to fly some more pattern soon.
>>>Part of the earlier discussion was about the issue that calling avoidance
>>>and breaking from the sequence if you think you might mid-air is allowed
>>>in
>>>IMAC but not in pattern.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> In 10+ years of IMAC competition- maybe 40-50 contests - I can
>>>only think of a few mid-airs, maybe three or so. Believe me when I say
>>>that calling avoidance and breaking the sequence is not something that
>>>you
>>>want to do in the heat of competition- it can really throw off a good
>>>sequence. Having said that, with fewer mid-airs in IMAC perhaps we can
>>>conclude that allowing sequence breaks to avoid potential mid-airs makes
>>>sense for pattern too.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Dave Michael
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Keith Black
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> To: NSRCA Mailing List
>>>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 5:47 PM
>>>
>>> Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Following my mid-air at the N. Dallas contest this weekend
>>> there's
>>>been an RCU thread started on the subject. From this discussion an
>>>interesting idea has evolved. For those who would like to read the thread
>>>here's the link:
>>>http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6409493/anchors_6413018/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#6413018
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If you'd just like to hear the idea I'll paste my RCU posting
>>>below:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This is my third mid-air in four seasons. My first may have been
>>>avoided, but the last two were a complete shock to both me and my caller.
>>>In fact, in mid-air #2 my caller said "you're good" (meaning we were not
>>>going to hit). The other pilot's caller walked up to me and apologized
>>>saying that he told the other pilot that he was in the clear. Therefore,
>>>I
>>>don't know how effective a third "spotter" sitting between the lines
>>>could
>>>be.
>>>
>>> That being said, two recent events have given me an idea of how
>>> we
>>>might be able to greatly improve this problem. The first light bulb was
>>>Vicente's suggestion of the spotter that warns the pilots. The second
>>>event
>>>was my walk out to pick up the fragments of my beloved Brio. As I was
>>>walking back I stood for a bit to observe the planes looking down the
>>>flight path. It was amazing how clearly you can see each plane as it
>>>moves
>>>in and out from the flight line.
>>>
>>> So here's the idea: What if we sat a spotter at the corner of
>>> the
>>>box to watch plane separation in the distance out dimension and then had
>>>the other spotter sitting between the judges (or even back under the
>>>cover)
>>>watching in the right to left dimension. These two spotters could use
>>>radios with headsets and continually talk to each other. There are many
>>>times that planes appear to be close to a mid-air from the flight line
>>>viewpoint, however, the number of times that both spotters would be
>>>alarmed
>>>should be! fairly minimal. When this occurs the spotter could sound an
>>>alarm (this deserves discussion as to the details) and each pilot could
>>>peel off of their course. If one pilot froze the collision may still be
>>>avoided by just one pilot taking action. Sure, this could cause a
>>>mid-air,
>>>but viewing from two dimensions should help in alerting only when an
>>>impact
>>>is probable.
>>>
>>> Some have stated that they've seen very few mid-airs, but my
>>>experience in D6 and NATS is that at least 70% (if not more) of the
>>>contests I've attended have had mid-airs. I'm not going to run away
>>>crying
>>>and quit the hobby due to this mid-air, but reducing such losses would be
>>>a
>>>benefit to us all!
>>>
>>> Keith Black
>>>
>>>
>>>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
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