Drone Pilot Hits Paraglider & Actually Runs Away From The Scene

A paraglider flying out of Torrey Pines Gliderport in Southern California was compelled to make a right away touchdown after his glider was struck by a drone which sheered his traces.

Upon touchdown Hunter M. Odaka, who goes by Wind Hunter on YouTube, confronted the person who was apologetic and tried to clarify himself saying:

“This was not a good suggestion. I used to be nice, there was nobody round me and my display blacked out and I used to be making an attempt to regain management.”

The unidentified man pretended to file a report and take Odaka’s cellphone quantity after which took off working. Odaka needs this man recognized as he might have been killed if and a “hit and run is a extreme crime regardless of it’s within the air nor on the bottom.”

There’s some hypothesis that the person might have been working for embarrassing causes past hitting a paraglider as there’s a well-known nude seaside close to by which might be nicely inside the vary of the drone.

Whereas radio managed plane are allowed at Torrey Pines Gliderport, they’re required to present precedence to man-carrying plane:

“Radio managed plane could also be flown anyplace alongside the cliff, however have major use of the Window space. All the time preserve “Blue Sky” between your plane and all different plane. Hear for whistles from cling gliders and paragliders. Give man-carrying plane the right-of-way. Don’t fly at or close to man-carrying plane.”

Midair Collision Report:

Time: January seventh, 12:52 PM
Place: Torrey Pines, North Face, between the 2 flags
Drone operator: Unknown
Paraglider pilot: Hunter M. Odaka
Harm: Paraglider traces had been lower and broken.

Whereas flying my paraglider on the time and site above, I all of a sudden heard a noise like one thing putting the cover. I regarded up and noticed a drone tangled in my traces, chopping them. I landed instantly, and a man approached me, admitting he was flying the drone. He pretended to present me his title and cellphone quantity however then grabbed his drone and ran away.

Torrey Pines Gliderport Security Pointers:

Torrey Pines Gliderport is an lively hovering websites. It’s a regulated web site to make sure the security of spectators, pilots and private property so all guests might take pleasure in it. Use of the Gliderport is a privilege and never a proper. The flight Director has the authority to implement these guidelines per San Diego Municipal Code Part 63.02.32. Violation might end in revocation of flight privileges.

Basic Guidelines

1. It is a Gliderport. Solely motorless, un-tethered flight is permitted.
2. Unauthorized spectators will not be permitted in take off or touchdown areas or alongside the cliff edge.
3. Anybody inebriated or different intoxicants is prohibited from flying. No alcohol or intoxicating substances could also be consumed previous to or whereas flying.
4. All flight operations will likely be litter free.
5. Flying is prohibited when the location is posted as being closed. When the black ball flag, smoke or flares are used to point an emergency, all plane within the air should land instantly.
6. There shall be no low altitude flying (lower than 50ft) over the RC pit space, the launch space, or different pilots or spectators. There will likely be no flying inside 500ft of any public, business or residential constructing.
7. Any accidents, incidents or disputes between pilots shall instantly be dropped at the eye of the Flight Director.

Radio Managed Fashions Operations

1. Radio Management pilots have to be AMA members. Earlier than soloing every pilot should show their means to soundly fly their plane to the Flight Director or his designated consultant.
2. Starting pilots are permitted to fly solely with the help of an skilled pilot.
3. Radio Managed plane have to be operated in accordance with the AMA security codes. An skilled pilot should test new plane earlier than they’re first flight.
4. All transmitters should meet present FCC and AMA pointers.
5. Solely Torrey Pines Flight Authorization Playing cards are allowed on the frequency board (one card per frequency, the transmitter being turned on solely whereas the cardboard is posted on a correct frequency). Restrict flight time to fifteen minutes if one other pilot requests your frequency.
6. Radio managed plane could also be flown anyplace alongside the cliff, however have major use of the Window space. All the time preserve “Blue Sky” between your plane and all different plane. Hear for whistles from cling gliders and paragliders. Give man-carrying plane the right-of-way. Don’t fly at or close to man-carrying plane.
7. All RC pilots will need to have a spotter/observer to watch and inform the pilot relating to air visitors throughout full-scale glider operations. Throughout instances of heavy cling glider / paraglider operations the Flight Director might require RC pilots to have a spotter/observer. The requirement for having a spotter/observer have to be conspicuously posted close to the RC frequency board.
8. When there are pilots close to the cliff edge, all launches have to be from the cliff edge apart from take a look at glides or hi-start/winch launches distant from the RC pit space. RC pilots shall fly their plane from a place the place they’ll observe the cling glider and paraglider launching space, besides when touchdown their plane within the jap RC touchdown space. Hello-start/winch launches have to be coordinated with different flight operations.
9. RC fashions will NOT be launched or flown from every other location inside two miles of the Torrey Pines Gliderport. This consists of the UCSD Organic Reserve, Horizons (the Burial Grounds) and North Face.

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