Right-of-Way Rules for Paragliders
Revised 2007/8/28
Czech version: Rozdílná
pravidla pro létání v různých zemích
1. General:
a. The pilot with right-of-way shall maintain course and speed.
b. It is the responsibility of all pilots to take measures to avoid collision.
2. Rules during:
a. Launch
d. Thermalling
e. Aerobatics
f. Landing
4. Reference
5. Discussion (external link)
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Courtesy: Don't keep soaring in front of a pilot waiting
to launch. Even if the video cameras are filming.
o
Czech:
It is a Rule: Reference.
·
Courtesy: Arrive on the launch area, ready to inflate
and launch. Do not make others wait for you to:
o
Sort your
wing's lines, connect the risers to your harness and strap yourself in.
o
Turn ON
and test your instruments.
·
Courtesy: After a failed launch or waiting more than
a few minutes for conditions, move aside for others who are ready to launch.
·
In
o
Every
popular site had a safety officer. He had the power to confiscate your license
for a time not exceeding 1 year if he felt you were irresponsible. One rule
is that after 3 launch attempts you have to redo your license (even if you were
national champion).
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Rule: When 2 pilots are approaching head-on,
both pilots must turn to their right.
·
Rule: To overtake (pass a slower pilot
flying in the same direction) pass on the right. The pilot being overtaken has
right-of-way.
o
·
Rule: When 2 pilots have converging paths
at about the same altitude, the pilot with the other to his right, gives way.
·
Rule: The lower pilot has right-of-way.
o
This is
because the lower pilot cannot see clearly above.
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Note: In
active air, a lower pilot by a few meters can rapidly become the higher pilot.
Both pilots must try to maintain a safe separation.
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·
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Rule: When 2 pilots are approaching head-on,
the pilot with the ridge to his right has right-of-way.
o
·
Rule: To overtake (pass a slower pilot
flying in the same direction) pass between the ridge and the pilot (if safe to
do so).
o
This is
so that the pilot being overtaken does not turn into the passing pilot, when
turns are normally done away from the ridge.
o
o
o
o
o
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Czech: Rule:
It is the opposite, overtaking pilot must pass away from ridge. Reference.
·
Rule: Before turning the pilot has to make sure
there results no danger of collision.
o
o
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Courtesy: The first pilot inside the thermal sets the
turn direction.
o
o
o
o
Some
reasons why pilots end up circling in opposite directions (summary of an
article of Joe Greblo):
§
New
pilots may have their full concentration devoted to thermalling alone and not
looking or thinking far enough ahead. Such pilots should practice away from
others, until their skill and confidence provide "left-over"
concentration for joining a group.
§
In a
same thermal, 2 pilots are split by significant altitude difference and
circling in opposite directions, thinking there is not collision risk. That
second pilot may be climbing from a low save. But as more pilots join and fill
the space between them, confusion of the proper turn direction will increase.
It is the duty of the second pilot into the thermal, to anticipate this and
match the direction of the first, to avoid confusing others, well before
they will join.
§
Pilots
circling in multiple cores of a thermal may initially be separated by a
comfortable distance, but cores often merge and conflict occurs.
·
Courtesy: A pilot climbing faster and approaching
from below has priority.
o
o
Czech:
It is a Rule: Reference.
o
o
·
Courtesy: Not seeing other gliders any more: If a
pilot can't see another glider previously thermalling close to him any more, he
has to leave the thermal immediately.
o
o
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Courtesy: A pilot joining another at about the same
altitude, gives right-of-way to the pilot inside the thermal to continue
circling.
o
o
o
o
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Czech:
It is a Rule: Reference.
o
o
Note:
The Normal Flight rules still apply, and
the approaching pilot has right-of-way if when they meet the thermalling pilot
has the other to his right. They are not nice, but they have the right-of-way.
This situation is less likely to happen if the thermalling pilot circles right.
o
Discussed
in "Speed to Fly" video by Jocky Sanderson, and summarized by John
Walton: Technically, if the thermalling pilot is at the same altitude and on
your left (you are approaching form the right), then the thermalling pilot
should give way to you. As courtesy, you should not put the thermalling pilot
in that position.
o
You are
not considered "thermalling" because you just did a 45ş turn.
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Courtesy: A pilot joining another at about the same
altitude, will enter at the tangent to the circle so that no aircraft already
turning will be required to maneuver to avoid the joining aircraft.
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Illustration by Rob McKenzie
(ignore the word "rule").
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o
Czech:
It is a Rule: Reference.
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Courtesy (from Joe Greblo): Try to maintain
concentric circles even if this results in a slower climb rate.
o
Avoid
sudden bank angle changes that may momentarily increase your rate of ascent.
Rolling in or out in a "sudden pop" may take you up a litter quicker,
but the other pilots in that thermal won't appreciate your unpredictable
actions.
·
Courtesy: While sharing a thermal, pilots should
adhere to the principle of “see and be seen”.
o
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Courtesy: While sharing a thermal, when at a similar
level, never turn inside, point at, or ahead of another aircraft unless you intend
to overtake, and can guarantee safe separation.
o
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Courtesy: While sharing a thermal, leave the thermal
if, in your judgment, you cannot guarantee adequate separation.
o
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Courtesy: While sharing a thermal, look for other
aircraft joining or converging in height.
o
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Courtesy: While sharing a thermal, do not maneuver
sharply unless clear of all other aircraft.
o
o
Czech:
It is a Rule: Reference.
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Courtesy: Leaving a thermal: Look outside the turn
and behind before straightening.
o
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Rule: The pilot practicing aerobatic maneuvers
must give right-of-way to any other aircraft.
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Courtesy: The lower pilot (who has right-of-way, see Normal Flight)
should not cut the path of another on final approach.
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Courtesy: If a pilot is making an emergency landing,
give way to him if safely possible.
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Courtesy: Give way to a pilot on final for
top-landing.
o
Top-landings
are optional. It is not a right to gain right-of-way.
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Rules
may vary according to countries.
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You can be
dead right. Remember that safety is #1, staying aloft comes after.
o
Adrian
Thomas: Only an idiot with a death wish would rely on rules to avoid a midair.
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Local
site rules can override international or a country's rules.
o
For
example, at Torrey Pines (coastal
site), the tandems have right-of-way over solo pilots when conditions are light
(not high over the ridge) regardless of if the solo pilot has the ridge to his
right or not. Not fun to be waked by a tandem going slow anyway.
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Pilots
not taking their right-of-way will confuse others.
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Pilots
thermalling near a ridge: In most countries (situation unclear in
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Czech.
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English translation of the Rules (PDF
document). Chapter 4 is the right of way stuff.
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Europe.
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Aerial
collision avoidance rules in Europe.
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FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).
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Part 103
- Ultralight vehicles: Sec.
103.13: Operation near aircraft; right-of-way rules.
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Rules
(PDF document).
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Italy.
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Rating
System – Basic Safety Regulations – SOP 12-1: USHPA Part 100 basic
safety recommendations: 100.05 Traffic and right of way recommendations.
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Jeff
Greenbaum: Paragliding
and Right of Way Rules + Beyond the
Standard "Right - of - Way Rules" - Some Addendums and Exceptions.