Disclaimer

This guide is based on the best information available at the time of going to print. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, the Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club, its Committee and Officers, and the authors of this guide cannot be held responsible for any loss or injury, directly or indirectly arising from any error or omission contained herein.

Copyright Notice

This sites Guide makes extensive use of customised maps to assist pilots wishing to fly TVHGC sites. These maps must not be copied or used for any other purpose. Base maps reproduced from the OS map by permission of Ordnance Survey: Crown Copyright 1998/1999/2001. All rights reserved. Licence number AL100037720.

Livestock, fences and neighbourliness

All the farmers on whose land we fly have different concerns – what scarcely worries one may trouble another greatly. These are generally spelled out on the individual site pages, but:

• Horses are easily spooked; try to avoid flying low over them especially at Milk Hill, Tan Hill and Rybury.
• Sheep can be nervous too; they need time to get to know you. If there is plenty of room they will wander away, but if penned into a small space they can panic and hurt themselves on the barbed wire – especially at Liddington Castle.
• Sheep with unborn or young lambs are more at risk. If the mother gets separated from the lamb they sometimes fail to find each other again especially at Tan Hill and Rybury, which are closed for April and May.
• Do not climb any fences. It may be a bit of a walk, but it was your choice to fly. If agreed access is over a locked gate e.g. Liddington, then climb on the hinged side only.
• English Nature makes no unaccompanied flying a condition of the licence at Milk Hill. The farmer of Rybury and Tan Hill is equally concerned. Both impose a penalty of £50 payable to charity, on anyone caught flying unaccompanied.

Be a good neighbour

Our continuing access to these sites depends upon our continuing to be a good neighbour, so stick to the site rules, and be polite and friendly if challenged.
Bring home any litter; even if other people have left it. Leave the sites cleaner than you find them.

Accidents involving electrical cables

• Don’t endanger your own life.
• The Southern Electricity emergency number is 0845 770 8090.

Helping injured pilots

• Use first aid techniques to help the injured pilot. If you don’t know what to do, find someone who does. Don’t offer an injured person a drink or a cigarette!
• Keep calm and help to calm the person injured. Keep uninvolved people away from the injury site.
• If you are in any doubt about the extent of the casualty’s injuries telephone the emergency services and get an ambulance immediately. State your location accurately and obtain an estimated time of arrival. Note that you may need to have someone call from the top of the hill to get a mobile phone signal and remain there to stay in contact with the emergency services.
• When calling the Emergency Services use the European single emergency call number 112 in preference to the UK 999 number. The 112 number provides caller location information to the operator.

Report the incident

• Obtain names and telephone numbers of witnesses and ask them not to discuss the incident until they have written down what has happened.
• Contact the TVHGC Safety Officer immediately.
• Complete an incident report form within 48 hours and send it to the BHPA.
• The contact number for the BHPA is 44 (0)116 2611322.

Before Flying Every Day

It is each pilot’s responsibility to check the NOTAMS provided by the National Air Traffic Service Ltd. This applies to both local site flying and XC.
They are available at www.ais.org.uk/aes/login.jsp. This site requires free registration, but it is possible with the Narrow Route briefing facility to restrict the list to only those NOTAMS relevant to where you intend to fly.
Alternatively you could use www.nats.co.uk/operational/pibs/index.shtml. This site does not require registration, but provides just a plain listing of all NOTAMS.
If you are unable to use the web based services then use the AIS (Aeronautical Information Service) Information Line: 0500 354802.
This telephone information line provides pre-recorded information on UK Airspace Upgrades and Temporary Restricted Areas notified within the UK. It is regularly updated and only contains information on activities taking place for that day. Also check the club website for latest site news. If you are not able to do this call the Sites Officer. If you are unable to contact the Sites Officer then contact another member of the committee.

Before Flying on Weekdays

If you wish to fly on weekdays then you should notify the RAF on 0800 515544 preferably the day before and if not, then at least four hours before your intended start time. State that you would like to notify Hang Gliding, or Paragliding activity. You will be asked to give your name, contact number (preferably a mobile that you will have with you on the hill), the date and time flying will start and finish, the site name, site grid reference, nearest town, and expected maximum height (1000’ AGL unless you know better). They will then call you back with a reference number. If the site has a BHPA reference number and you are able to call before 16:00 the day before, then when asked for the grid reference say that it is a BHPA site and give the BHPA reference number. The site may then be given an avoidance status. If this is done you are not usually called back with a reference number.
The 0800 515544 number is manned Mon-Thu 07:00-23:00 and Fri-Sun 07:00-17:00.

Membership

To join the Thames Valley Hang Gliding Club (TVHGC) please contact the membership secretary This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (01344 872266)

Weather Information

Internet

Follow the weather links on the TVHGC website located at www.tvhgc.co.uk.

Television

The BBC1 regional forecasts are best for our purposes (just remember to add at least 50% to the windspeed they give).

Radio

The BBC Radio 4 forecasts are best for our purposes.

Telephone (these are premium rate numbers)

Weathercall 09068 505305 (Avon and Wilts)
Weathercall 09068 505306 (Berks, Bucks and Oxon)
Weathercall 09068 505309 (South Wales)
AIRMET 0891 500 693 (South)
AIRMET 0891 500 692 (North)

Wendy Windblows

A ‘now-cast’ service run by a BHPA member. It uses automated weather stations at, or near a number of our flying sites.
To subscribe call Freephone 0800-358-0405, or visit www.wendywindblows.com or use the ‘Pay-As-Go’ Public Access Number - 0900-900-7000 (at February 2005 calls cost 50p/min from a BT land line).

Airband Radio

If you have a radio that can receive Airband the following frequencies provide ‘coded’ current situation and short term forecasts for UK airfields. You need to have learnt the METAR and TAF codes to understand this information.
VOLMET 128.6 MHz (South)
VOLMET 135.375 MHz (Main)