Escape THIS ... Paragliding GUST FRONT chaos in Turkey!

While paragliding in Turkey on a thunderstorm day, cloud suddenly formed in front of the Babadag launch site, and many tandem pilots and some solos got stuck in the gust front. If this happens to you when you’re already in the air, what should you do?
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Thanks to video and image contributions from:
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[@abdussy.6547]

Hi greg. I am a local pilot in Oludeniz. Unfortunately, some pilots landed near my house. I think the paragliding slot system should close the pists before this happened.

[@emilcervenan]

Common sense should prevent pilots from taking off. Also basic and mandatory procedures like weather forecast analysis and radar check before taking off. Quite unbelievable to see pilots risking their lives like sheep in a herd. Ignorance level 1000.

[@mountaindomina]

Happened to me on the Dune de Pyla years ago. My first flight experience there. I saw the rain far away in the sea. And underestimated the cold air blow. At first I enjoyed the flight. Minutes later it changed to pure terror. And when I managed to land somehow the wind teared me up the dune. For some 150 m. With my mouth opened… 😂 I will remember this sand forever!

[@FlyWithGreg]

good point, it's just as terrifying wherever you are, because you have to land somewhere in howling wind.

[@paulshort5059]

Hi Greg. Great advice. I happened to be there and witness firsthand this occurrence. (In fact, I saw myself on the ground looking up in the video.) Seeing those gliders being pushed backwards and unable to descend. As a new PG pilot our discussion on the ground was exactly this... "How do you escape?" I appreciate your informative and well thought out points. Thank you.

[@FlyWithGreg]

Thanks Paul! There's no easy solution to this, I tried to offer the best options but you really want to avoid the whole mess in the first place by choosing sites where you have run-off escape routes, or if you don't, limiting your flying to conditions that cannot trap you.

[@KilkennyLights]

Frank from Ireland. I was in Cloud for 30 minutes on a dhv 1.2 slow glider. Compass ball saved me and gave me something to focus on while in dark room. Eventually flew into sea bbreeze and landed beside a church. Kissed the ground. Fly safe. No dark clouds. Terrifying.

[@CyberEditing]

Great advice. This is also virtually the identical strategy for escaping rip tides at the coast.

[@wings4max]

Jep, both are Just Fluid dynamics in the end of the day. Still so interesting to recognize the real world applications of it!

[@harunsivasl4983]

Thank you greg for producing this video, as a local turkish pilot i know what happened in oludeniz in last weeks, it was weird and nobody teached us what was happening, its you! thanks a lot

[@Jozefus73]

we were there that day. and I know that a huge wall was visible on the radar. I did not understand why some pilots flew. Radar information is very helpful and even important.

[@knuble]

This was incredibly helpful! When I asked this question in my basic training the answer was pretty much: well you shouldn’t have launched, try everything to stay alive.

[@Hemersonr]

perfecT.... situation awereness is the ky factor to stay safe!!! tahanks for the precious tips... if it happens in the country side??? the same strategy pays off

[@AndreyGreenYtube]

This day, suspicious dark clouds had developed long before the clusterfuck happened. I wonder how had instructors allowed students in the air.

[@mkvhomes2048]

I got video of they guy that pulled big ears at sea. He landed back in fethiye. I saw that storm coming since early morning. Im also pilot living in oludeniz.

[@FlyWithGreg]

was his landing OK in Fethiye? It would have been my escape target.

[@burakozkal8057]

​@@mkvhomes2048selam abi Tandem Pilotumusun?

[@barrywebber100]

Another great educational and fascinating clip. Thanks Greg.

[@hadikargar9261]

There are many great pilots out there, but I think you're the best instructor 🌹🌹🌹

[@FlyWithGreg]

Thanks Hadi, but it's not a competition, I'm not interested in being 'the best' ... I think we all have contributions to make, pilots and instructors alike. As long as I can be 'good' I am happy, I'm doing my job, clearing up confusion and putting pilots on the right track. As long as there are avoidable incidents happening, there's more work for me to do. Education is the key to making this sport safe.

[@frankcarlsen4921]

I would suggest bringing two things whenever in the mountains or off the beaten pad. 1: An emergency whistle 2: A small compass The emergency whistle is way underrated when things go pear shaped. You can scream help for about ten minutes before going hoarse. The whistle is way louder and can be used for hours.

[@user-mf3jd6py2t]

The best way to avoid is not to get into such situation.

[@Jozefus73]

Exactly

[@nachnamevorname5917]

Glad to see you changed and improved a couple of things with yer videoing 😊 Good! Have a good day, Greg!

[@doubledeeeeeeez]

I was there....on the ground.......not wishing I was in the air. This was not just a thunderstorm day. This was a 3 day event from a Low pressure that was more akin to a Tropical Depression like we have in the GOM. This had us shut down from SIV on May 4,5,6th. May 7th everything resumed.

[@FlyWithGreg]

had MOST of you shut down. I'm still puzzled why some pilots considered this to be a flying day...

[@CarlMarvin]

I'd argue if you're hauling ass backwards in an area with potential mechanical turbulence, aim for an area with soft trees and bushes instead of a field. They'll cushion your potential fall if you take a collapse low AND catch your wing and stop a potential lethal drag.

[@FlyWithGreg]

good point, if you can find 'soft trees and bushes'

[@With_bear_in_the_air]

Nice video Greg! Thanks

[@niklas7355]

I find this Video to be good. I will always try to avoid weather like that and inform myself befor and not fly.

[@cheese4994]

Have the same pin ball compass + have learned to tether it to my flight deck since the pin often comes undone in flight.

[@FlyWithGreg]

take the nasty pin out. Tie it on with cord. cannot fail.

[@dventure..]

I was there when this happen! The tandem pilot locals set off despite the weather warnings !! The authorities shut it all down for 3 days as a punishment.. ☠️

[@ralfstofer8609]

This sophisticated expensive devices for GPS and tracking etc. could have a sound based navigation system for such emergency purposes.

[@Sampsonoff]

That’s a cool looking cloud

[@sandrainthesky1011]

Impressive!! I remember when I was there if I saw so much as a cloud with virga, i would go wait, have a chat, have a snooze, but no way would I fly!!

[@melvinmahe1520]

thanks for your tips. Could you make a video about waterlanding one days ?

[@ChrisJewell7333]

Thanks Greg…! ❤

[@gliderrider]

There are always variables that one has to consider. But in general…yeah. Run if you can. Run and land.

[@chywright9361]

Really struggling to understand why anyone would take the risk.

[@rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr]

Note that there was a trough clearly visible on the meteorological maps right off the coast, so going flying on that day was taking a huge risk... It's a downright miracle that nobody was hurt that day. 22 tandems were blown over the mountain.

[@Music_is_MyBestFriend]

Does this happen in minutes? Or being caught in a cloud like this is actually bad planning/underestimating of the conditions?

[@keggz01]

I would say bad planning/underestimating conditions.

[@cabanford]

I bought a 100 Euro boat compass after finding out that small compasses and instrument were unreadable when I got sucked into a big cloud.

[@NeilStansbury]

I'd be interested to know the strategy if you'd launched from the 2000m take off. Would you try to head along the ridge towards Kebak or Butterfly Valley or go with being blown over the back?

[@FlyWithGreg]

I'd go straight out to sea at full speed, then spiral down hard, you can burn off 1000m in under a minute but being well out to sea is the most controllable environment, definitely wouldn't want to head along the ridge or be anywhere near sloping terrain. If my groundspeed was in low single digits, I'd run while i had the height, soar the end of the back ridge in passing and go out to Fethiye flats.

[@georgiosconstandi9856]

Hi Greg, This video could have been a lot shorter (unlike my comment). Compasses for flying in clouds? Wtf! For heavens sake, why legitimise being in the air in these conditions by outlining strategies for surviving. There is only one good option and that is to be aware of the weather forecasts and to weigh-up the consequences of making the crazy decision to fly in conditions which would equate to something like driving the wrong way on the motorway. Just so ridiculous that people get caught out in these outrageous situations. This comes from a pilot who has been teaching paragliding, flying tandem, for over thirty years and is Qualified S.I.V. I am still passionate about our sport and I’ve seen too many avoidable incidents some of them fatal…

[@ericoschmitt]

That's when a hang glider would have zero problems. Pull in, go above 100km/h, land safely at the beach :)

[@heikowalter8239]

Meteo Information befor Flight is importand !

[@PhilippeLarcher]

no thunder

[@browntrousersmoment]

Landing in sea-never, unless you are 100% you have a rescue boat available.

[@FlyWithGreg]

it's no big deal if you are prepared. just unclip your leg straps, land into wind, and swim aside. or body-drag like a kitesurfer. I've tested both. It's the surf that is dangerous, so avoid the shoreline.

[@paragliding_fun]

Conclusion of your Video: Stay the f**k on the ground!

[@user-yd8mo1il2z]

Nibyiza ibinu mukora fite amatsiko yokubimenya

[@tonyparamotor9487]

the pilots who decided to fly? were they vistors? or locals? @abdussy.6547.said it all should of been closed .

[@aircursion3540]

Vk l.Vlorë😮.m l😮