Pilot stung by wasp leads to mid-air near miss

[@grahamlees4394]

one possible explanation for the higher airprox incidents between the UK and US airspaces (having flown both). The UK airspace is overly restrictive and squeezes GA in to a smaller space (amongst other things).

[@theflyingfrog]

I once landed with a very big praying mantis looking over my shoulder. Fortunately I only noticed it once I was taxiing back to the apron. Completely inoffensive but a bloody big creepy crawly, and still sends shudders down my spine!

[@TheLincolnshireFlyer]

I quite agree we should all use ECD to their fullest. I am surprised and unaware that gliders tend not to have a display. I started with gliders when I was in the RAF and later transitioned to SEP so I have awareness of both types of flying. Whilst I appreciate gliders have right of way with powered aircraft I do think more responsibility could be taken by all to keep everyone safe.

[@kevchilton908]

Thank you for the updates, Jon 👍🏻

[@FasterLower]

If you read the report there is a list of accidents. Most are glider - glider or glider - tug. Powerer - powered is much less common. It would be interesting to see the relative hours flown to see if there is a difference in accident rate. It does point out that the glider glider rate has fallen due to the usage of FLARM

[@neilmurgatroyd3197]

Thanks Jon

[@BruceDuncan]

It sounds like the glider is getting the sharp end of the stick here but it's worth pointing out that gliders have had impressive deployment of EC for about 10 years now. It's rare to find a club glider without FLARM and it's mandatory in cross-country competitions. Standard Mode C/S transponders don't work in gliders because of the power and weight requirements, never mind TCAS, and most aren't talking to ATS. FLARM has been *extremely* effective in almost eliminating glider-glider MAC (I know there is going to be an AAIB report published very shortly about one, though, which is devastating :( ). If you want to see and avoid gliders in the UK or Europe, fit FLARM or something which can receive it.

[@FasterLower]

Portable ADSB out devices (like Skyecho - there are others) weigh less than a phone and have internal batteries which last hours. FLARM is incompatable by design with other systems as its proprietary and encrypted.

[@BruceDuncan]

@@FasterLower they are now! FLARM was the first and the deployment is impressive. I find it incredibly frustrating that FLARM is encrypted, but even more so that they cripple the device if the firmware isn't updated once a year (although this is allegedly fixed now). The other thing that FLARM offers is conflict prediction algorithms and alerts which are appropriate for gliders. Wouldn't it be nice if we could standardise on one 😂

[@theflyingfool]

EC is a total failure unless everyone is singing off the exact same hymn sheet. My view is that the glider pilots should have been admonished severely for not using their EC to its fullest capacity, in the same way they would if their transponder wasn't being used to its best capability.

[@ghoflyer]

With such small numbers of fatal accidents it's futile drawing conclusions.

[@BruceDuncan]

5:02 UKAB*