Recommendation

I refer to Air Safety Occurrence Report No 199900844 and your
request for a formal response to Air Safety Recommendations
R20000095, R20000096, R20000097 and R20000098.



The mid-air collision risk associated with gliding activities has
been the subject of considerable attention from the GFA Operations
Panel over many years. Following the Waikerie accident of the
2/3/99 and with consideration of other mid-air collision accidents
involving gliders, or aircraft associated with gliding operations.
The Panel has taken the following actions intended to reduce the
likelihood of any further occurrence of these events:



During 1999, as has been GFA practice for a number of years, Flight
Safety Seminars were conducted at locations throughout Australia
with the intention of bringing safety issues to the attention of as
many glider pilots as possible. Approximately 50% of the available
time at each of these seminars was devoted to discussions
concerning mid-air collisions and related topics. It was the
intentions that these discussions would ensure that all pilots
attending would leave the seminars with a heightened sense of
awareness of the risk of mid-air collisions associated with gliding
operations and a better understanding of how to minimise these
risks.



As see-and-avoid is the primary means of collision avoidance for
aircraft operating under visual flight rules and it appears that
this accident and others involving gliders have occurred in
situations where there is no apparent reason for the developing
dangerous situation to have remained unobserved by all involved.
The Operations Panel has decided to increase the the emphasis on
see-and-avoid training by elevating the technique of see-and-avoid
techniques to the earliest possible stage of pilot training.
Changes to the pilot training syllabus are being introduced that
will ensure that primacy is established for this vital pilot skill
as a prerequisite for further training.



It will also become a requirement of annual checks that pilots
demonstrate an effective lookout procedure.



R20000098



The Gliding Federation of Australia is aware of the need to ensure
the safe management of airspace in the day-to-day activities of its
members and member clubs/organizations.



The segregation of aero towing and other gliding activities may
produce unforeseen hazards and be impractical to implement. The
recommendation will require careful consideration by the GFA
Operations Panel.