Old forum messages KiteSafety

Message off forum KiteSafety

Welcome All,

As the world involves every more in kiting activities, this forum may provide some help on keeping kiting safe. Post and discuss with the safety mission in mind. From recreational tiny-tot first kites to national energy-grid-feeding AWES is a spectacular array of kiting activity. Keeping it all safe in era K3 is part of the reason for starting this forum. Gather all known kite-safety knowledge. Help form specialized guides. Form tools for educators, leaders, coaches, participants, and designers. What is yet needed in the kiting world as regards safety? How to involve new participants in the safety community?

Best of kiting to all,

Joe Faust

aka, JoeF

KiteStop tutorial on "Kite Safety" is up for discussion.
http://www.kitestop.com/tutorials-kite-safety/

Each item is up for discussion. The "Kite Safety" tutorial at KiteStop is open for discussion. Is there something missing? Is there something that invites rewriting? Without prejudice, we look forward to seeing most every major kite-safety guide that is reachable. This item at KiteStop is a start. Reply to this post when staying on topic which is the item on the page linked above.

http://www.gombergkites.com/nkm/safety.html
Gomberg's three-C focus: Caution. Courtesy, and Common Sense

From a UK site http://kiteman.co.uk
Since the site's background image made it near impossible to read and since the centering of line made reading even more challenging, the text is repeated here for study and discussion:

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR SAFE KITE FLYING

THE LAW: UK

There are a number of laws relating to kiting activities laid down by The Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Defence. (Directorate of Airspace Utilisation) Amendments to the laws were made in 1996. Relevant laws are: (Articles 55,56,76, 118 & 121 and Rule 14) The C.A.A. classifies kites as aircraft.

You must not: fly a kite more than 30 metres (100') above ground level within 5 kilometres (3 miles) of an airfield. You should avoid take off and landing flight paths.

Be aware of: low flying police & rescue helicopters, micro-light aircraft, hang-gliders and para-gliders.

You must not: fly a kite more than 60 metres (200') above ground level without special permission from the C,A,A (Kite festivals usually get special permission to fly much higher)

Local bye-laws: You must not fly a kite as to create a public nuisance, this includes noise.

Some public places, e.g., parks, camp sites etc may have a ban on kite flying.

Some public places, e.g., parks, camp sites etc may have a ban on kite flying.

SAFETY:

Avoid: overhead power lines at all times. Electricity can kill!

Avoid: flying near roads, busy footpaths, railways, canals & rivers:

Choose: an open, clear area for flying away from the public if possible. (Fast moving, diving or crashing kites and flying lines can hurt people.

Avoid: flying in stormy, thundery weather, particularly on beaches. (lightning can strike or static electrical charges build up and run to earth down your line and through you, you may receive burns or worse)

Avoid: flying near trees, they can entangle your kite & lines, and your kite may be impossible to retrieve.

Avoid: flying too close to other kites to avoid tangled or cut lines, damaged kites and accidents.
Avoid: startling pets and live-stock, particularly horses when being ridden.

Be aware of: the dangers of tethering your kite, (this includes tethered inflatables) always see that your anchor is secure and clearly visible. Never leave a tethered kite unattended, always be ready to take control.

Be aware of: the pull, lift and speed of some large single line kites and many multi-line sport kites.

Be aware of: the inherent dangers in the use of glass coated flying line (Manja) for fighter kites

Do not: fly in winds that are too strong for those recommended for your kite, and make sure that all knots, clips, and spars are secure and that your line is suitable for the wind conditions. Do not fly in winds beyond your strength.

Do not: run with your kite unless absolutely essential and see that the ground ahead is clear and fairly level.

Never: leave any "waste" kite materials on the flying field: Always: pick up broken spars, clips, line etc, and take them home.

Supervise: inexperienced flyers and children, SEEK INSTRUCTION before flying stunt and sport kites.

Wear: gloves to protect hands, kite line can cut deeply and cause friction burns. Do not allow the line to wrap around fingers or limbs. Keep your feet clear of kite lines and tails on the ground.

Wear: sun glasses or peaked cap to protect eyes in bright light. Protect yourself from exposure to the sun.

Kite Traction activities, e.g.; Buggying, Kite Jumping, Kite Water Activities, Kite Skiing etc: participants must be aware of the increased, special risks involved in these activities for the public and themselves. Participants should take appropriate training and take all reasonable precautions to ensure safety at all times. (CHECK ON YOUR PERSONAL INSURANCE COVER, FOR YOU ARE NOT COVERED BY OUR CLUB'S INSURANCE)

Dropping objects from the sky: C.A.A have strict rules on this activity. Check with the club officers.

Be aware that: if your kite becomes entangled in power lines (apart from the serious dangers) you may cause power failures and receive a large bill for its removal.

Club members Must follow the instructions of the appointed Safety Officer at flyins and public displays.

Be aware that: if you cause an accident you, or the club, may be liable to pay out large sums of money in compensation. (In the event of any incident, you should involve the appointed Safety Officer, make notes of the incident and take details of any witnesses. )

Compiled by Harry Peart of North East Kite Fliers

=======================================================

Course 101 - Kite Safety by A Wind of Change
http://www.awindofchange.com/lessons/lesson1-1.html

NASA http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/airplane/kitesafe.html

Safety Field Card presented at WindStarKites
http://windstarkites.com/KiteSafetyFieldCard.htm
and
http://windstarkites.com/KiteSafetyFieldCard_1Page.pdf Con Engels
Extensive page and card. Many items could be discussed.

Kite Hang Glider Safety
The hang gliders that are free-flying kites have a safety sphere.

Kite ParaGlider SafetyIn the sense of free-flight canopy kite hang gliders often called "paragliders" there is a safety space that may be studied and discussed. Open for discussion.

Sky-diving uses a kite for its glide sector. Safety?
The safety of using kite parachutes in skydiving is the topic of this thread.

Once the parachute is open, the gliding wing is a wing of a free-flight kite system.

The line set of the kite parachute is designed for the opening forces experienced in skydiving.

The wing and line set and harness differ some from foot-launch kite paragliders.

Safety in inhabited powered kite systems
The anchor set destined for powered flight tows a tethered wing; such kite system has a safety concern. We may study that safety realm.

Kiting to perform special tasks.
When kiting for the fulfillment of a special task, there is the added dimension of the "task" and the needs related to getting the task completed. There are some general concerns in such environment. Then there will be particular concerns in particular tasks at defined scales; new topic starts may be formed for study and discussion of the safety of specialized tasks under particular specifications.

Safety for electric-generating kite systems
AWES covers many types of working kite systems. One large sector of AWES is about using kite systems to generate electricity. Special safety concerns are involved. What?

Kiteboarding safety
http://kitesurfing-handbook.peterskiteboarding.com/safety could be studied and discussed as a starter in the kiteboarding sector of kiting.

Risk Management. Yes, lower the risks. But there always will be risks. What may be said about managing the risk portfolio of a kiting situation? How to keep on top of managing the risks? What can go awry with the efforts to manage risks? Measuring or sizing risks? Changing risks?

Safety for kite festivals?
Kite festival leaders have special safety concerns for the field, crowd, participants, airspace, etc. What are the special safety concerns of festival leaders? What kind of officers have what duties? How to be a safe festival participant?

Fatalities and injuries in kiting? Incidents.
Historic and contemporary fatalities in kiting occur. What happened? How could it have been prevented? What injuries occurred and why? How could have the injury been avoided? Types? Frequency? Where? Circumstances?

Club or association safety officer?
Clubs, businesses, associations, projects, etc. that use kite fields often have safety officers. What might they have as helpful tools for their office? Etc. Study and discuss.

Fugitive kite systems? Awareness of how terrible could be the damages from fugitive kite systems may be instructive. Do not lose control of your kite system for these reasons:

...Open for discussion of what COULD OCCUR. Tell of the possibilities of death and destruction. How terrible can it get? Even from a fugitive toy kite let alone a huge kite system. Think of what could happen; describe the mechanics of what could happen. We do not want these things to happen! Kiting will be restricted when incidents occur. People do not like to get hurt or lose value in things they care about. Fugitive kite systems are to be avoided by the young, old, new user, experienced, one-time kite user, professional kite-system pilot, etc. Stay aware of bad things can get. This topic thread is to help wake us up to why we are to keep safety margins over all aspects of our kiting even if the kiting is a small toy kite system.

Describe what could happen with even a tiny single-wing single-tether fugitive kite system.
Tell all.

Active safety? See topic on passive safety for contrast.
What is involved in active safety?

Passive Kiting Safety
(see for contrast the topic thread on active kiting safety)

Knowing the environment of the kiting activity
Know the kiting environment! What does that mean? How does one know what?
What is the downwind environment?

What to do if __________________________?
Things happen that we wished would not happen. We were involved or not in the action.
What to do now that we are aware of something?
Describe the incident and discuss what to do?
Could we have been better prepared to face the what just happened or is happening?
What help is needed right now? What help might be needed?
What authorities need to be contacted? Do we have the contact numbers and communication tools?
What not to do? What to do? Do we know how to describe where we are and where the actions are occurring that concern us? Are we familiar with the map of the environment? Landmarks? Roads? Access challenges?
Is there first-aid supplies present? Who is trained to do what? Etc.

Things happen to kiting people, to people watching kite actions, to the kite system. What to do when something goes wrong? What kind of urgency is there? Is the situation fairly static or is it dynamically changing right now?

Pacific Power's Kiteman & Kite Safety
https://www.pacificpower.net/kiteman
Pacific Power's Kiteman & Kite Safety
Discuss their points. What are the similar contact numbers in one's locality? Are the numbers current?

Kite field safety?
Kite-field safety? The grounds? The air? Fitness of activity?
Map? Holes? Obstacles? Wires? Fences? Trees? Roads? People? Special structures? Irrigation parts? Wind direction? Special gust sources. Trespassing? Permissions? Activity type fit for the site? Time? Weather report? Actual local atmospheric conditions? Wetness? Plants? Respect for the property character? Neighborhood character? Density of people at the site and their level of cooperative awareness for the activity planned? Tools needed? Safety checklist? Reserved space? Communication with onlookers? Conspicuity of hazards? Lines? Assistant watch? Plan and purpose? Communication of change of plans? When to down kite systems? Safety margins for activity? Etc.

Knot safety?
What knots not to use where?
Once a knot is accepted, what to be aware of with respect to the accepted knot?
What knots to use when and where?
Is the system needing a log note about a knot? Date of knot installation? When will the line be decommissioned?
What stresses has THIS knot experienced? Is the knot still safe? Is it time to replace the line that holds THAT knot?

Line Safety
What are the concerns about lines that affect safety?
Line management? Inventory and notes about particular lines. Log us line use? What to record in the log? Knots? Terminal bling? Use? UV total exposure? Inspections and inspection methods? Is the line safe right now? Following some incident: is the line still safe to use? Getting lines out of use and out of the possibility of use? Should a different line be used for a particular activity? Identification of lines for inventory and logging purposes? How has the line been reeled, drummed, dragged, used? Any shocks to the line? Etc.

Anchor Safety

Downing Plan?
What is the downing plan? Wind watch? What if _____? Assistance? In case of excess wind? Trip line? Angle-of-attack controls? Passive control for overpressure? R-C control for overpressure? Active control skills? Are skills current for the downing activity? Are assistants skilled in downing procedures? Are the tools handy? Plan B? Plan C? Etc.