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Safety Information

PASCO Flight Safety

• Safety is everyone's business. Volunteer ! You can help make soaring safer. Be alert, speak up when you see something unsafe.
• Is there something you would like to see on this page, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Email safety comments or suggestions to the PASCO Safety Officer:
safety@pacificsoaring.org

2010 Updates added.

• Read RENO Air Traffic change to NorCal Tracon Updates.
• Safety Seminar Presentations, will be added as they are sent to me.

Transponders

Squawk Code Confusion - National Code?

There has been a lot of discussion on the web and user aviation user groups lately about squawk codes.

Squawk 0440, 1200, 1201, 1202 or WHAT?

NOTHING HAS CHANGED....        YET! (10-11-2011)

Keep your transponder set as normal. That is 1200 for VFR, and 0440 for the Reno area (see Reno Area ATC Procedures) .

FAA has changes planned for Feb. 9, 2012, read about it:

• SSA.ORG news posted 05-20-2011
• SSA.ORG FAA PDF Document

This change is for gliders NOT in contact with ATC or using a code agreed upon locally. (Such as 1201 for Denver, 0440 for Reno, 0400 for Tucson, etc.)

Altitude Encoding Transponders Recommended

The Potential conflict between gliders and commercial air traffic near Reno has increased with the growth of commercial jet traffic into Reno-Tahoe Airport (RNO) . PASCO emphasizes that glider pilots operating in the Reno area must be alert for all air traffic arriving and departing RNO.

Transponder signals are received by Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) on board commercial aircraft as well as by Air Traffic Control (ATC) Radar.

PASCO recommends that gliders operating cross country, within 50 NM of Reno-Tahoe Airport, install and use an altitude encoding transponder.

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Reno Air Traffic Area Changed to
"Nor Cal Approach" - effective Oct. 23, 2010

1. Radio Contact is now with NorCal Approach
2. North Sector is called "Nugget" frequency 126.3
3. South Sector is called "Silver" frequency 119.2 (YES, 119.2)

Reno Glider Pilot RNO procedures Revised Nov. 12, 2010 - (PDF 252KB)

Thanks to Rolf Peterson, PASCO, for putting this together.
RECOMMENDED Communications Procedures for Glider Pilots Flying Gliders in the vicinity of Reno, NV. Revised Nov. 12, 2010.

Glider Pilots must now communicate with NorCal Approach. This is a "MUST READ" for your safety. Page 7 is the Pilot's Cockpit Card.

Reno Area - Traffic Procedures "Talking to ATC" (PDF 15KB)

by: Mike Schneider. IMPORTANT UPDATE, where this document says
"Reno Approach", you now contact "NorCal Approach"
A great 3 page "Cheat Sheet" list of radio communication lingo to use when talking to ATC, includes common phrases and expected responses. Print this out and take it with you to study. Practice with a friend.

Reno ATC - Reno Air Traffic Control 2006 (PDF 2.9MB)

By Don Brooks PASCO 2006 - So you think you are alone in the big friendly skies? - Don's presentation will open your eyes. IMPORTANT UPDATE, where this document says"Reno Approach", you now contact "NorCal Approach"

Transponders in Sailplanes (Link to Soaring Safety Foundation Site - PDF 1MB)

By Eric Greenwell - Updated in 2008. Eric provides a lot of important and useful Information on Selecting, Installing, and Using a transponder.

Minden - Flying Out of Minden

Pilots soaring out of Truckee, Air Sailing, or Minden should study the material posted on the Minden Soaring Club web site. You will find information on Hypoxia, Oxygen, How to Set up you Sectional, and other important information about flying out of the Minden area. IMPORTANT UPDATE, where any of the documents on this website refers to "Reno Approach", you now contact "NorCal Approach".

 

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Wave Windows - FAA & Soaring Agreements

Minden and Pyramid Lake Wave Procedures - November 2010

If you fly wave in Nevada YOU MUST READ Fred LaSor's presentation!

FAA Minden and Pyramid Lake Area Wave Agreement (PDF 211 KB)

Updated Oct. 29, 2010 to show "NorCal Approach". Thanks to Rolf Peterson, PASCO, for putting this together.

Review Minden/Pyramid wave documents and get a briefing from your local club or glider operation before you attempt a wave flight. They probably will not open the wave window for you if you have not been briefed.

Wave Window Update - Fred LaSor - PASCO 2008 (496 KB pdf)

The Minden and Pyramid Lake area Wave Windows were re-negotiated and combined into a single agreement. The FAA document contains maps and coordinates of the wave window areas.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: where the document refers to "Reno Approach", you now contact "NorCal Approach" using same frequencies.

Williams Soaring Center - Williams, CA Wave Procedures

Visit the Williams web site to view the Wave Window information that was prepared by Peter Kelly and Darryl Ramm. Be sure to ask the WSC staff to review the requirements and be sure download the SUA file for your PDA prior to any wave flight attempt to make sure you stay in the window boundaries..

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Safety Articles & Documents

PASCO Safety Report - 2010 Safety Seminar (pdf 757KB)

By Fred LaSor. 2010 Year in Review. A eye opening review of Glider Accidents in the USA, and Region 11. Reasons, statistics. View the supporting Excel spreadsheet 2010-PASCO-Accident-Tabulation.xls

Staying Safe In Wave (html)

by Fred LaSor - PASCO Safety Officer -- Wave season is upon us in PASCO-land, and it's time to review some considerations of flying at high altitudes for extended periods of time. More ...

Complacency: What Me Worry? (html)

By Martin Hellman - Presented at the PASCO 2007 Soaring Seminar. None of us think of ourselves as resembling Alfred E. Newman, the "What me worry?" Mad Magazine character – until after an accident, when we rigorously review what we could have done differently More .....

Safety Comes First (PDF 64KB)

By Bruno Gantenbrink - A candid commentary on soaring safety. 'That sentence, "The most dangerous part of gliding is the trip to the glider field" is the dumbest, most ignorant saying that has found a home in our sport.' More...

Mountain Flying Safety (PDF 114KB)

By Richard Pearl - 2006 - Do you know the affect of high altitude on your glider? What speed should you fly? Take off? Landing? ... More...

Generic Safety - What Causes Accidents (PDF 271KB)

By Bill Reuland - 2006 What Cause High Percentage of Accidents? Fatigue.. lack of practice.. Failure to maintain situational awareness... More...

FAA Physiological Training Course Brochure (PDF 182KB)

High Altitude Chamber Ride and the FAA Basic Survival Course information. What it is, and where to schedule it. You must have a FAA Class 3 medical to go into the High Altitude Chamber, but not for the classes.

Physiological Hazards of Soaring Flights ( PDF 1.3MB)

By Dr. Walter B. Cannon MD 2003 - Medical conditions which could create dangerous situations in flight... Hypoxia, Skin Cancers from Chronic Sun Exposure... more...

White Mountain Safety - Procedure Alpha Map & Info card- (PDF 51KB)

You should print and memorize this information (two pages) and have them in your cockpit when flying the Whites.

• Set Altimeter to Bishop ASOS Pressure Alt (freq. 119.025)
• Report Position on 123.5 per the position map.
• Maintain 1,000 ft vertical separation.
• Open and PRINT the Procedure Alpha Document.
• See the entire Power Point Presentation "Nose To Nose in the Whites"
  http://www.soaringsafety.org/presentation/safety.html

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AOPA, and SSA Safety Links

AOPA SAFETYCAST Seminars -

On-line aviation safety courses available free. Air Safety Institute SafetyCasts bring the nation’s leading safety experts right into your home, 24-7. With so many to choose from, you’re bound to find no-nonsense safety advice tailored to your specific needs—advice you can use on your very next flight. Each seminar runs about 60 minutes.

AOPA Air Safety Foundation

Ranges from publications to online courses.

Soaring Safety Foundation http://www.soaringsafety.org/ - Major Goals:

Reduce accident rate in soaring

Increase pilot awareness of safety

Disseminate Training Information and material

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FAA & NTSB Safety Links

FAA Physiological Training Course Brochure (PDF182KB)

High Altitude Chamber Ride 'CAMI' and the FAA Basic Survival Course information. What it is, and where to schedule it. You must have a FAA Class 3 medical to go into the High Altitude Chamber, but not for the classes.

FAA - FAAsafety.gov

Safer Skies through Education - Aviation Learning.

NTSB- National Transportation and Safety Board - Aviation Division

Accident Database & Synopses, Accident Statistics.

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