Funston pilots putting the club and site at risk
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:27 amThere was an unfortunate set of incidents today at the coast. An HG pilot strafed PG pilots both in the air and on the ground at points south of the Westlake gap. There were in fact three pilots that I believe were intentionally intimidating, threatening, and/or putting PG pilots at risk. However, only one of those pilots was absolutely clearly aggressive and well outside of any reasonable safety guidelines.
That pilot was flying a white T2C with a red cocoon harness. I'm nearly certain it was Ward Carter - who I understand has a long history of this behavior. The first act of aggression of his that I observed today was a series of strafing runs on the "Walker's" launch at Mussel Rock. These runs were preceded by long steep dives bringing the glider to speeds of 80 to 100 mph. Several PG pilots were standing on launch, and some of them ducked at the last moment to avoid being struck by the glider. Whether any of us would have been hit had we not ducked, I can't say. But I have no doubt at all that we could have easily made contact by raising our hands.
This same sort of intimidation and recklessness was visited upon pilots standing at the "Tomcats" launch shortly thereafter. Again, some pilots ducked to avoid being struck. Ward had no way of knowing the identity or experience of the pilots he chose to endanger. One pilot that ducked was a P2 visiting from Australia. He was more than a little surprised that this is how we conduct ourselves in the U.S.
In addition to the strafing runs on pilots standing at launch, we were harassed and waked in the air. This is particularly evil since Ward can't know how a PG pilot might react to his aggression. If the pilot simply made an unexpected maneuver in an attempt to avoid being hit, that could result in the collision he hoped to avoid. I imagine most know of the incidents of intentional aggression by HG's against PG's at Point of the Mountain, and that at least one fatality resulted (in this case the fatality was that of the aggressive pilot).
As I mentioned, there were two other HG pilots that I believe were trying to intimidate PG pilots today - in fact I have very little doubt that was their intention. But only one was so grossly negligent and aggressive that I am not able to look the other way. As I mentioned, I'm pretty certain that pilot was Ward Carter.
Last year one-legged Brad played this game with me on the low cliffs between Westlake and the Stables. Ultimately he took a head on pass at me and went beneath me with less than 2 feet of clearance. Had I attempted an evasive maneuver, I believe we would have collided. I did not escalate that incident to the rangers, the police, the FAA, or USHPA. I did not even make a formal complaint with the club.
But I'm told the club does not condone this sort of aggressive behavior or the notion of pilots settling their differences in the air. Sadly, it seems this policy is not applied equally. Again, I am willing to avoid escalation because I do not want to see the site jeopardized - but ONLY if the club chooses to take action and discipline this pilot in a meaningful way. I will not be threatened and endangered by such people. If the club does not choose to demonstrate that such actions are unacceptable I will address the matter of this pilot's actions to the authorities outlined above.
There are photos and plenty of witnesses - including currently active Funston pilots.
On a related note, USHPA just announced an increase in our annual dues. This increase is a direct result of the increasing cost of insurance, and that is a direct result of incidents. Every USHPA pilot in the U.S. has pilots like Ward Carter to thank for their increased dues.
I plan to approach this with the guarded optimism that the newly elected FF leaders will take seriously issues that threaten the safety of any person (pilot or not) and continued access at this site.
Rick Cavallaro
That pilot was flying a white T2C with a red cocoon harness. I'm nearly certain it was Ward Carter - who I understand has a long history of this behavior. The first act of aggression of his that I observed today was a series of strafing runs on the "Walker's" launch at Mussel Rock. These runs were preceded by long steep dives bringing the glider to speeds of 80 to 100 mph. Several PG pilots were standing on launch, and some of them ducked at the last moment to avoid being struck by the glider. Whether any of us would have been hit had we not ducked, I can't say. But I have no doubt at all that we could have easily made contact by raising our hands.
This same sort of intimidation and recklessness was visited upon pilots standing at the "Tomcats" launch shortly thereafter. Again, some pilots ducked to avoid being struck. Ward had no way of knowing the identity or experience of the pilots he chose to endanger. One pilot that ducked was a P2 visiting from Australia. He was more than a little surprised that this is how we conduct ourselves in the U.S.
In addition to the strafing runs on pilots standing at launch, we were harassed and waked in the air. This is particularly evil since Ward can't know how a PG pilot might react to his aggression. If the pilot simply made an unexpected maneuver in an attempt to avoid being hit, that could result in the collision he hoped to avoid. I imagine most know of the incidents of intentional aggression by HG's against PG's at Point of the Mountain, and that at least one fatality resulted (in this case the fatality was that of the aggressive pilot).
As I mentioned, there were two other HG pilots that I believe were trying to intimidate PG pilots today - in fact I have very little doubt that was their intention. But only one was so grossly negligent and aggressive that I am not able to look the other way. As I mentioned, I'm pretty certain that pilot was Ward Carter.
Last year one-legged Brad played this game with me on the low cliffs between Westlake and the Stables. Ultimately he took a head on pass at me and went beneath me with less than 2 feet of clearance. Had I attempted an evasive maneuver, I believe we would have collided. I did not escalate that incident to the rangers, the police, the FAA, or USHPA. I did not even make a formal complaint with the club.
But I'm told the club does not condone this sort of aggressive behavior or the notion of pilots settling their differences in the air. Sadly, it seems this policy is not applied equally. Again, I am willing to avoid escalation because I do not want to see the site jeopardized - but ONLY if the club chooses to take action and discipline this pilot in a meaningful way. I will not be threatened and endangered by such people. If the club does not choose to demonstrate that such actions are unacceptable I will address the matter of this pilot's actions to the authorities outlined above.
There are photos and plenty of witnesses - including currently active Funston pilots.
On a related note, USHPA just announced an increase in our annual dues. This increase is a direct result of the increasing cost of insurance, and that is a direct result of incidents. Every USHPA pilot in the U.S. has pilots like Ward Carter to thank for their increased dues.
I plan to approach this with the guarded optimism that the newly elected FF leaders will take seriously issues that threaten the safety of any person (pilot or not) and continued access at this site.
Rick Cavallaro