WHY ROBERT G. MARONDE

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Nose 2 Nose
Over The White-Inyo Range

• The Airspace

• The Risks

• A Solution

Robert L. Semans (SE) John O. Graybill (SKY)
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The Airspace
. . . The White-Inyo Range

• 5 nm North Boundary Peak
• 5 nm South Cerro Gordo Peak
• Variable Width
• All Foothills West East
• Areas of Expected Lift
• Valley Floors To Skirt Over Development

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The Risks
. . . Head-On High-Speed Mid-Air Collision

• Bands of Narrow Strong Lift
• Concentrated High-Speed Glider Traffic
• 20 to 30 Northbound Gliders
• 5 to 12 Southbound Gliders
• High Cruise to Circle Ratio
• Potential Closing Rate of 300 mph!

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The Risks . . . continued
. . . Head-On High-Speed Mid-Air Collision

• 300 mph 12 seconds per mile
• Very Small Head-On Profile
• Hard To See White On White
• Negligible Angular Displacement
• Probably Not Looking Enough To See

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The Risks . . . continued
. . . Head-On High-Speed Mid-Air Collision

• Bail-Out Prospects Are Very Poor
• Were Not Talking Bumps Scrapes
• Explosive Impact
• Radical Modification of Your Glider
• Kinetic Energy Varies With Square of Speed
• Death Likely

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A Solution
. . . A Formal Collision Avoidance Procedure

• Lets Not Wait For Death To Visit Us
• Discipline Can Hold Death At Bay
• Safety Can Be Improved With
• More Definition
• Widespread Publication Education
• Universal Use

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A Solution . . . continued
. . . Procedure Alpha -- 3 Parts

1. Use The Bishop Altimeter (ASOS 119.025)
2. Using 123.5, and a Prescribed Format, Report
   Position Relative To 6 Agreed Upon Reference
   Points
3. Directly Negotiate Your Own Collision Avoidance
   With Nearby Gliders

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A Solution . . . continued
. . . Six Reference Points

1. Boundary Peak
2. White Mountain Peak
3. Schulman Grove Intersection
4. Waucoba Mountain
5. Mount Inyo
6. Cerro Gordo Peak

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A Solution . . . continued
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A Solution . . . Continued The Inyo Range
Cerro Gordo Pk
Mt. Inyo
Schulman Grove
Waucoba Mtn
Independence
Lone Pine
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A Solution . . . Continued The White Mtn.
Range
White Mtn Pk
Waucoba Mtn
Schulman Grove
Boundary Pk
Bishop
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A Solution ... Cont. The White Mtn. Corridor
Boundary Pk
White Mt Pk
Bishop
Schulman Grove
Waucoba Mtn
Independence
Mt Inyo
Lone Pine
Cerro Gordo Pk
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Procedure Alpha Part 1
. . . Altitude Separation

• Use The Bishop Altimeter (ASOS 119.025)
• Common Reference Pressure Is Essential
• North South Pressures Could Be Very Different

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Procedure Alpha Part 2 . . . continued
. . . Make Disciplined Position Reports

• Always When Within 2 3 nm of the Airspace
• Only When Cruising . . . or
• Just As You Start To Cruise
• Always Over, or Near A Reference Point

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Procedure Alpha Part 2 . . . continued
. . . Format For Position Reports

1. Who You Are Calling (White Mountain Traffic)
2. Your Contest Number (Or Other Call Sign)
3. Your Direction of Flight (Northbound or
   Southbound)
4. Your Altitude
5. Your Position (Over or Near a Reference Point)
6. Your Direction of Flight (Northbound or
   Southbound)

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Procedure Alpha Part 2 . . . continued
. . . Example Position Reports

• Northbound
• White Mountain traffic, sky northbound, two
  point six miles north Mount Inyo, one six
  thousand four hundred, northbound
• Southbound
• " White Mountain traffic, sierra echo
  southbound, three miles west of Waucoba
  Mountain, one seven thousand, six hundred,
  southbound

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Procedure Alpha Part 3
. . . No Hit Negotiations

• Call Directly When Close
• Danger Danger!!
• Altitude Within 1,000 Ft
• Very Close Positions
• No Visual Contact
• Someone Must Change Altitude
• By Agreement
• Quickly
• Carefully

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No Guarantees Be Careful
. . . Things That Can Hurt You

• At the root of every human catastrophe is at
  least one invalid assumption.
• Non-glider traffic Powered Aircraft Hang
  Gliders
• Gliders on other frequencies
• Gliders with radio failures or low batteries
• Glider pilots who are ignorant of the procedure
  or who are reluctant to speak English

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No Guarantees Be Careful
. . . More Things That Can Hurt You

• Pilots in competition who dont want to disclose
  their position
• Candidates for the Darwin Award
• Third Glider Trap
• Dont Assume
• Who You See Is Who Youre Talking To

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Things You Can Do
. . . Reduce The Probability of Getting Up
Close And Personal

• Broadcast Any UFO In The Airspace
• If You Are Higher, Gradually Slow Up.
• Be Careful With Big Zoomies!
• Stay Well Below Cloud Base!
• Spread Word About Procedure Alpha

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To Soar Another Day