Reflection on forgetting of a paragliding strap
Every year, several pilots lose their lives after forgetting to fasten their harness properly. They are not usually beginners...
During a safety evening organized by the CDVL74, a quick survey of the public revealed that 15% of them had already taken off with a total or partial forgetfulness of fasteners.
CAUSES and CONSEQUENCES
The causes of forgetfulness can be many and varied:
- Being disturbed during preparation
- Preparing in a hurry
- Not being 100% fit
- Personal and/or professional worries
- Miss a takeoff and partially detach to climb back up more easily
- ...
Check out the FFVL safety film: S'attacher, c'est vital!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bdZJeWiTos
Other FFVL safety films are available at: https: //federation.ffvl.fr/pages/parapente-films-securite
As a general rule, if you forget (for various reasons) during takeoff, the harness will harness rise" up your back as the wing ascends, and the waist strap will get caught under the pilot's arms. The pilot will then find themselves in an unexpected and surprising situation, and risk being carried away to an altitude that is dangerous (several meters). Once stuck, and if the wing continues on a trajectory away from the terrain, the reflex will be to lock the arms to maintain the blockage and attempt to land. Unfortunately, this position cannot be maintained for more than a few minutes because the straps compress the arteries under the arms and therefore prevent the muscles from being supplied with sufficient blood flow to maintain the blockage: the arms will therefore eventually open by themselves despite the best will in the world...
There are a number of techniques you can use if this ever happens to you:
- Climb back into the harness grabbing the risers with your feet. -> Requires training, good physical condition, and very quick execution to avoid fatigue.
Video: https: //www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=j6BKfNpK19U
- Make a quick return towards the slope or trees to limit the time spent in this position, and attempt a tree landing. -> however, it can be difficult to manoeuvre the wing if you've let go of the brakes, which will probably be the case if you find yourself in this situation (see photo above) ...
It's up to you...
It may also be that no straps are attached, and that simply pressing the shoulder straps gives the impression that you have put on your harness ! In this case, when the harness , simply let go and raise your arms so that the harness rise freely until it comes out without getting stuck, or do the same thing (arms up to get out without getting stuck) while holding the brakes in order to release the wing.
Must-see: A pilot climbs out of his harness takeoff after realizing he wasn't strapped in.
Also pay attention to the chest strap, which despite its seemingly flimsy construction (small plastic clip) can be strong enough to get stuck under the head or chin guard of a full-face helmet, for example (if you forget to fasten it), and create enough resistance to prevent the harness slipping out from the top as shown above.
Even if all the causes identified so far are of human origin, manufacturers have a duty to integrate these aspects into their design, in order to offer technical solutions that can avoid the worst should the pilot find himself in one of the situations described above.
The solutions described below are intended to be general in nature, allowing you to compare the solutions offered by different manufacturers. The comments provided relate only to the fastening aspect of the buckles and not to the intrinsic qualities of any particular harness.
TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS: harnesses geometry
harness separate thigh straps and waist belt
This is undoubtedly the geometry that most drivers are familiar with, and it's also the one that can generate the most problems!
With this type of geometry, there are three separate points to attach in order to completely close the harness the chest strap and the two thigh straps. Contrary to what one might think, it is the thigh straps (and not the chest strap) that are most important during takeoff, as they prevent the harness riding up the back and causing the chest strap to get stuck under the arms.
To date, the vast majority of harnesses this geometry are equipped with an "anti-forget" strap (shown in red in the photo) that is attached to one of the leg straps and has a buckle that locks the waist strap in place. This means that even if the thighs are not closed at takeoff, or if they are reopened later (such as after a failed takeoff to make it easier to walk back up), this strap will prevent the harness riding up too high on the back. It will then be possible to sit back down correctly in the harness the help of your hands and close the buckles that have remained open. However, be careful with the length of this anti-forget device, because the longer it is, the lower the pilot will find themselves and may not be able to use the brakes without risking stalling the wing!
harness V-shaped anchor
This technical solution, used in many harnesses models, prevents users from forgetting to attach the harness thanks to its unique design. Once one of the straps is attached, it becomes impossible to fall out of the harness.
In fact, we can consider that the 2 thigh straps are connected to the ventral strap, and therefore that the anti-forgetting feature described above is integrated.
The position won't be comfortable (that's for sure!), but it will prevent any untimely falls.
CAUTION: Depending on the harness seat harness board, separate leg straps, hammock), the pilot's position may cause asymmetry in the harness, which will certainly cause the wing to rotate.
harness (without buckles)
This technical solution is found on many harnesses or hike-and-fly harnesses , where the buckles have simply been removed to save weight, but that's not all.
The Kolibri, for example, has been deliberately designed without buckles, to minimize the risk of forgetting to fasten the buckles for the original target audience, i.e. pilots involved in hike & fly or bivouac flying competitions. In fact, the effects of fatigue accumulated during longer or shorter walks, and in the haste that can be generated in the run-up to take-off (competition, changing conditions, stronger winds, etc.) can be at the root of many causes of forgotten hooks. Pilots such as Antoine GIRARD have certainly confirmed this.
These harnesses therefore be less easy to put on, but they also offer additional safety given the uses for which they were designed.
There are therefore various technical solutions provided by manufacturers on the harnesses models currently harnesses on the market, and it is up to you to find out all the relevant information before making a purchase.
OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSE: Oversight by Occultation
As we saw above, one of the major causes is sheer oblivion (for various reasons).
Another major risk is undoubtedly forgetting due to "obscuration." Certain accessories that are added to harnesses partially or completely obscure the area where the leg straps and buckles are located. And when you lose sight of this area, the risk of forgetting to fasten the leg buckles increases.
This is particularly true of the cocoons used in harnesses, ventral reserve parachutes, cockpits, etc.
Here too, manufacturers offer a number of solutions to make up for any omissions.
FORGET-ME-NOT ACCESSORIES
Cocoons
Cocoons cannot be considered accessories per se, as they are often an integral part of the harness. However, their use can easily lead to forgetting to attach them.
In general (!) pilots take care of their equipment and make an effort not to drag their harness the ground or get it dirty. So, the first thing you may want to do on takeoff is to close the cocoon to prevent it from dragging on the ground and obscuring your view of your legs.
Some manufacturers therefore equip the closure of their cocoons with an anti-forget system connected to one of the thigh straps. This means that when you close the cocoon, you also close one of the thighs at the same time to prevent the harness riding up (as shown in the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-lT6Rw9m8k ) if no other buckles are closed.
Cockpits
Similarly, cockpits are usually hung up quickly, to avoid dragging them along the ground and damaging the instruments on them. As with the cocoon, they can also act as a screen for visual verification of buckle closure.
Some manufacturers have taken this potential risk into account, equipping their cockpits with an anti-forgetting system that connects one of the thighs to the cockpit connection. When the cockpit is fitted, one of the thighs automatically closes (as with cocoons, see above).
Home" forget-me-not
If your harness equipped with one of these anti-forget systems, or if you are concerned about finding yourself in one of the situations mentioned above, there is a simple solution that can be implemented on any harness
Simply lock one of the thigh buckles in the closed position..
To do this, you can use adhesive tape, elastic, a neoprene sleeve, or any other system that will prevent you from accidentally opening this buckle. To install it in the harness, you will need to put your leg through the closed thigh strap, which will immediately prevent you from falling out of the harness you forget to close the other buckles.
CONCLUSION
As mentioned above, the causes of forgetfulness are human in origin, and can have different origins. Manufacturers try to provide technical solutions to assist the pilot and enable him to avoid certain dramatic situations, but these solutions cannot be considered "perfect", as they systematically require action on the part of the pilot, who will have to do things correctly to guarantee his own safety.
Please feel free to circulate and share these thoughts with as many people as possible, to make as many pilots as possible aware of this risk and avoid the accidents that are already too numerous.
We are fortunate to be able to practice one of the most wonderful outdoor activities: flying.
So take care, and enjoy your flights!
