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Posted by Ray
on 9/6/2009, 3:07 am
69.205.81.50
Yesterday featured gorgeous weather at the Balloon Festival. We had many satisfied ride customers, and if you wanted to fly a club ship, you could have stayed up till the airport closed at 6 PM, and today has similar promise.
Although FLSC's pilots strive to be as safety conscious as humanly possible, the general public at large events often manages to throw a curve ball. While coasting to a stop with a passenger in the Bergefalke, I noticed someone pushing a wheelchair in the direction of our operation, who initially was outside of the roped-off area. To my amazement, that person, not actually looking at the landing area, proceeded to lift up the restraining rope, festooned with caution tape, duck under, and push the wheelchair through. I vividly remember wondering whether my wingtip and his head would have an unhappy introduction, and I could tell by the look on his face, by the time he realized a glider was landing, that he had the same thought.
At an airport, situational awareness applies to everyone, not just pilots. Sometimes accidents happen not because of cavalier behavior, but just a moments lapse of attention, e.g. placing a cell phone call with oncoming traffic.
Today I will put up some warning signs up on the ropes protecting our operation. You try to think of everything which could possibly happen, which is impossible.
Situational Awareness...Priceless.
Ray
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