Pilot safety and SIV training course – David Eyraud

MEMO

Auto-rotation

There are 3 stages in this exercise:

  1. Preparation: maintained asymmetric collapse with heading control.
  2. Perform several turns of auto-rotation.
  3. Counter to exit while keeping the wing collapsed.

 

1 – Preparation
 

Perform an asymmetric collapse and maintain heading.

As seen on the previous page (according to your lines and risers layout).
 
Do not let yourself turn: neither to one side nor the other.
 
Example with 3 A lines and 2 A risers:

Slide the lines on the edge of your hand and hold on tight!

One of the difficulties of the exercise is to keep the wing collapsed throughout the exercise.
The wing will pull hard. This can hurt your hand if you don’t have good gloves.
 

Remember the position

Be aware of the amount of counter that allows balance: that allows you to fly straight.
How much weight shift in the harness, how much outside brake ?
When exiting the auto-rotation, you’ll need to return to this position by dosing the amount of counter.
 
 

2 – Perform several turns of auto-rotation

If you’re ready (hand firmly hooked at the bottom of the risers), and at David’s request, enter into auto-rotation.
Throw yourself hard into the harness on the collapse side and raise the outside brake (hold on the riser).
If the wing doesn’t start rotating, you’ll need to make a big roll movement to the opposite side of the collapse (harness and brake) then throw yourself strongly to the closed side.
Let the wing turn, it feels strange, but the rotation will quickly stabilize.
Do a few turns in contemplation (depending on the height above ground).
Observe:
  • the position of the wing (it comes to position itself on the opposite side of the rotation),
  • the collapsed side ends up on top and the open side at the bottom,
  • it turns very fast,
  • there is no wind in your face…
Try to monitor the landscape and the height above ground.
 
Caution: the sink rate is extremely high and you don’t realize it!
 
 

3 – Exit the auto-rotation

At David’s request, or in case of radio silence: initiate the exit.
Apply a deep counter in the harness (use your elbow and forearm along the risers to help).
If needed, apply some brake, very progressively.
When the counter works, the wind returns to your face. You need to dose the counter (adjust the amount of counter) to return to straight and balanced flight.
At David’s request, you can release the collapse and reopen the wing.
 
If the wing opens during rotation: you find yourself in a spiral dive. You need to retrieve the brake handle to manage the spiral exit.