Parachuting and Gliding on the same site at the same time, can it be done?

That was a good thing about Compton Abbas, there was open country at either end in those days and so the tugs and drop ships were not too much trouble for the locals.

Hinton-in-the-Hedges do operate side by side (as BR mentioned) although they have had some incidences in the not so distant past when gliders and parachutists have been in the same place in the sky at the same time.

Like a lot of things if operated properly there should be no reason why it couldn’t work.

The worst problem you will have to overcome is the locals and the noise from the paradrop plane and air-tow planes (if utilised).

That was at Thruxton.

I believe that, as a result, parachuting is not allowed now unless there is some form of air traffic control. Despite a rule being created that no rotors should be turning as parachutists are landing, I still landed close by a helicopter with rotating blades at Cranfield once. That’s good for the adrenaline.

The RAF Sports Parachuting Asoc, at Weston-on-the-Green used to have a winch launch alongside para ops, but I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you how it managed.

They still do and I don’t know how it’s managed either (and totally non-radio). If they can it makes you wonder why there aren’t more sites that do as it maximises the utilisation of the space available in our little country for these activities.In countries with lots of undeveloped space (i.e. the US, Canada, Australia) I can understand it as they have no need to dual use the space.

There was one very nasty one were a parachutist landed on a Helicopter about 20 years ago….

That was at Thruxton.

I believe that, as a result, parachuting is not allowed now unless there is some form of air traffic control. Despite a rule being created that no rotors should be turning as parachutists are landing, I still landed close by a helicopter with rotating blades at Cranfield once. That’s good for the adrenaline.

The RAF Sports Parachuting Asoc, at Weston-on-the-Green used to have a winch launch alongside para ops, but I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you how it managed.

In reply to your question. Yes it can be done. I remember when Compton Abbas used to have powered aircraft, gliders and parachutists all operating from their lovely little airfield. I don’t know what stopped it but the last time I visited there was only powered flying being committed.

There was one very nasty one were a parachutist landed on a Helicopter about 20 years ago….

Bobbington / Halfpenny Green / Wolverhampton Intergalactic Spaceport as I recall

Moggy

Speak to Jamie Freeman at Headcorn. He will be a mine of information on your problem. I had a hairy moment with a parachutist there in a Tiger Club Moth (G-ACDC) a few years back which was too close for comfort. As a young ATC cadet I watched a Chipmunk strike a glider cable and plummet into the ground when AEF and winch launched gliding was taking place at the same field. Was it Upavon? Can’t recall! Andy Saunders

There was one very nasty one were a parachutist landed on a Helicopter about 20 years ago….

there have been a couple of nasty incidents with parachutes and aircraft

I can only recall one….female parachutist landed on top of the parachute plane as it was landing. I’m not sure of any more incidents involving aircraft at Headcorn, which has an excellent safety record apart from that one isolated incident in March 1989.

There’s actually more danger from the non-based idiots who fly through the overhead while parachutes are dropping

Many years ago (45) I can remember visiting fairoaks and watching an off target parachutist land on the wingtip of an Auster….
During my time in the RAF I was at RAF Bruggen and we used to fly power and glider radio control while the gliding club flew at the other end of the airfield. We often worried as our large models found a thermal and the full sized gliders spotted us and followed us!

So in a worst-case scenario what happens if an unpowered glider in the dying monents of its potential energy is forced to make a landing whilst a jump is taking place? Bit risky? What’s the SOP?

The old Doncaster airport used to allow powered & meat bombing, there was a strict props stopped policy whilst meat throwing was in progress, which didn’t always go down well with visitors

Headcorn (Lashenden) Kent has fixed wing, rotary, aerobatics, parachuting and model aeroplane flying plus training on fixed and rotary all at the same time. Works well enough but there have been a couple of nasty incidents with parachutes and aircraft but in view of the number of “movements”
it is a very small percentage. Nonetheless still a significant loss to someone.

I think Hinton do (near Turweston). The meat-bombers use one side of the airfield whilst the gliders use the other. They seem to have the landing and departing horizontal separation sorted. Not sure how they manage the risk of gliders milling around the overhead (as they often do) whilst dropping is taking place.