FAI/CIVL Safety Pages

The FAI/CIVL wishes to make you aware of the CIVL Safety Pages.

It is intended to keep this system alive, gathering and spreading any new critical safety issue worldwide as fast as possible.

In the HG and PG sections are the specific data. The incident types are information bases without any statistical aspect. The safety notices are gathered from several federation and manufacturer websites.

Main Safety Page
Hang Gliding Safety
Paragliding Safety

Please Take Care

Just a reminder to be especially careful at this time of year when flying, as conditions can be fickle.

We have had an exceptionally large number of accident reports recently, involving both students, visiting pilots, and experienced pilots.

So, be vigilant, keep safe and fly in appropriate conditions.

Happy and Safe Flying!!!
NZHGPA Executive Committee

Harness Defect Report - Sup Air and Niviuk Harness

During routine WOF inspection and pre-flight checks on two harnesses the bungee reserve pin retainers in the harnesses have failed.

Both had sewn in bungy cords for securing the reserve pocket.

The bungy has been stitched through. This has likely caused the bungee to fail in two ways.

1. The needle may have cut bungy strands during stitching 
2. During normal use the thread continues to cut the bungy strands. Inadequate stitching or other means to hold the bungy cord intact during normal use.

Stitching through bungy is not best practice for this kind of application. A knot secured in the bungy is a preferable method, the knot maybe backed up with a non metallic washer also.

Sewn in bungy increases the risk of an accidental reserve deployment due to the difficulty of checking the failure point during normal pre flight checks. The wear may only be identified during a thorough inspection.

It is recommended that all pilots take particular notice of the method their reserve pocket is secured.

Any sewn in bungy cord should be thoroughly inspected and if there is any concern regarding the integrity of the bungy contact the equipment supplier for repair or replacement of the parts.

Grant Middendorf
PG Operations Manager
NZHGPA
Mob: 0274913786