Things to think about after Mike's accident

[HighFlyer]

We all know about the danger of water. We think about how hard it might be to get out of the harness in the event of a water landing, and the danger of getting tangled in the lines...

Maybe you've rehearsed quickly unbuckling from your harness. Maybe you've run through the scenario hundreds of times in your head to where you're pretty certain you'll instictively do it perfectly...

There are a couple of extra things to ponder when assessing the risk of flying over water. My good friend Mike made it past what one might think is the toughest part of a water landing-- getting out of the harness and getting clear of the lines. Mike made it past that part... He was well on his way to shore when he succumbed to exhaustion.

You may be a great swimmer and in great physical shape. You may be able to swim several laps in the pool. But remember, when you jump into the pool you're usually expecting it, and you're usually dressed for the occasion. The struggle to get out of a paramotor and get to the surface could very well put you on the brink of exhaustion before you ever head for dry land. Add potential panic factor and things are getting tougher. Then add clothing and shoes and the situation is looking even worse.

In an heroic attempt to save Mike, some of the pilots who were there went into the water. They were shocked at how difficult it was to swim in clothes and boots or shoes. One described it to me as "like swimming in syrup".

I just wanted to share these thoughts. It would't be too hard to convince one's self that the risk of flying low over water isn't that high. You might think the water isn't that deep, or that you can swim well enough and have rehearsed the event enough to survive. Just please remember the other factors of a water landing like possible panic, the difficulty of swimming in clothing, etc. when you assess the risk you are willing to take.

And remember that water hazards are everywhere. This most recent tragedy didn't occur in the ocean or a huge body of water. This was in a neighborhood retention pond in the midwest.
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The sky is not the limit... the ground is!!!

[maxwell679]

With respect to flying over water for those that have never done it, its hard to imagine what it really looks like.

I haven't flown a PPG over water (I am still a student and a new one at that.) But I have flown hot air balloons for more than 23 years, and done LOTS of splash and dashes on lakes and rivers. Even in FULL SUN you have poor depth perception over water. Its quite difficult to get a really good sense of how high you are above the surface of the water, I cannot imagine how impossible this would be after the sun goes down.

If you are going to be flying over water, do yourself and everyone a favor, and just do some low passes first without touching, say 5 or 10 feet above. Get a really good idea of what it will look like, what the winds are doing, how fast you need to go once the added drag of touching the water is introduced etc.

The life you save will be your own!

Martin


[quote="HighFlyer"]We all know about the danger of water. We think about how hard it might be to get out of the harness in the event of a water landing, and the danger of getting tangled in the lines...

[Phr00t]

I say screw low flight over water completely... if you have an engine out, it won't matter how many passes over the water you have had. If you hit a little rotor or a downdraft, it could stick your feet into the water too much and dump you. If you are flying low over water, you are rolling the dice. If I am ever over water, I will be within gliding distance to land.

[maxwell679]

YEP!!! I agree totally! Only fly over anything you are willing to land on.. or fly high enough that you can SAFELY glide away from it.

Martin

[davemcw3]

Flying over water [or any other no LZ terrain] without the option of an easy glide to land in the event of an engine out is playing 'Russian Roulette' with your life. Not smart. Not good piloting! Period.