NZHPA Safety taskforce summary - #3 WING HANDLING & LANDING

WING HANDLING 


The data shows that many accidents and incidents have a contributing factor where pilots were unable to maintain control of their wing, pointing to potential deficiencies in their wing handling skill set. There is some indication in many cases that the loss of control described was likely avoidable by a pilot with a more developed awareness, knowledge, and skills. 

Wing handling can be broken into two contributing factors: 
1. The lack of sufficient knowledge and understanding of what control inputs do to the wing and how a wing reacts to them, and the related ability to choose an appropriate action.

2. The ability to execute appropriate control inputs at the right time to consciously achieve that desired effect. 


A pilot must both:
Maintain course and prevent inadvertent collapses (applicable even to beginner glider classes)
Predict and prepare for the next move based on the current energy state, brake, and harness positions

A degree of wing handling error was reported as likely involved in almost all of the accident and incident reports in the NZ AIRS database. In some cases, this was implied or reported by others, but often pilots directly reported having ‘done the wrong thing’ or ‘entered the wrong control inputs. What was not normally reported was an explanation as to why or how this occurred, and what happened in the lead up to the incident. This reinforces the finding that there is an apparent lack of awareness and/or understanding of the mechanics of the incident and the piloting and wing dynamics that occurred within it
.

Recommendations 
- Continue to study the mechanics and theory of wing control even after qualifying for your licence. 
- Regularly practice wing control in a safe environment away from terrain or take an SIV course, especially if intending to fly thermic air.

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LANDING
Landing and approach to landing is the most common phase of flight for near misses, incidents, and accidents to occur. In 2020, 40% of all incidents occurred during approach and landing 

Landing incidents and accidents appear to be covered by two separate parts of the act of landing a glider: 
1. Errors in planning and executing the approach to land (or not planning an approach at all). This includes lacking the knowledge to set up and fly an appropriate approach and the decision to not fly a planned approach even where knowledge exists. 
2. Being unable to effectively control the wing through landing manoeuvres both in expected conditions and under pressure in unexpected conditions and constrained areas close to the ground (that is likely the result of poorly planned and/or executed landing approaches). 

AIRS reports and anecdotal expert observations show the need for better awareness and glider handling skill by many lower airtime pilots during landing approaches. As discussed with general wing handling above, this is particularly related to the perception and understanding of the space available to manoeuvre amongst other gliders and obstacles, in this case when close to the ground – such as trees and buildings. 

Recommendations 
It is clear that more deliberate planning, execution, and practice of well-considered top and bottom landing approaches across conditions – that include contingencies – is necessary. Related to the wing handling topic, more practised wing handling ability that allows better manoeuvring in constrained areas close to the ground is also required. 
- Practice spot landings every time you land and in a variety of conditions. 
- Remain disciplined with structured landing approaches. Always build in a “margin for error”.
- Always check real-time and forecast weather and conditions in the intended landing area or possible areas prior to launching. 
- Get better at assessing wind direction on landing using various techniques. 
- Acknowledge that top landing is an advanced skill which requires formal training so pursue it if it was not included in your PG2/intermediate training.