Preparations
Our winching club operates on the militarily airbase of Beauvechain, hence we can only fly during military inactive hours. This means that generally, we only fly during the weekend and on official holidays. The club operates continuously throughout the year, but in practice at least 3 people must be available (a winching man, starter and a pilot) to organise a winching day, and we find us taking a winter break, generally between November and February. But if the weather is nice and the members are eager to get the flying going, flying could also happen during these months!
The day-to-day communication mainly happens through mail or through our WhatsApp group. From Wednesday on, we will keep an eye on the weather forecast for the weekend. The authorized club members will also forward the relevant NOTAMs, weather forecasts and other practical information to the other club members. At the latest the evening before, we determine whether the circumstances allow for a winching day to be organized.
For those that are not members, but who would like to come and have a look, fly, or just take inthe atmosphere: please contact the club at least 2 weeks in advance. due to the safety regulations, we must register all visitors in advance by sending a copy of their identity card to the responsible authorities. Without registration you will not be able to access the base in any way! New members and visitors must report to the waiting room and enter the base accompanied by an existing member. So make sure you provide the necessary information in time so that you don’t miss a beautiful flying day!
Typical Daily Program
A winch day typically starts around 10am. We report to the base and go to the shelter of the club on the base. First, we start with the necessary practical matters: this includes an up-to-date weather analysis, checking the equipment, going through the necessary protocols, communicating about the status of the airspace and parallel activities on the base, reporting exceptional situations, etc…
After that, everyone makes their way to their positions: the pilots get ready to take off, the winch man sets up the winch, and the winch rope is pulled out by another club member. After going through the starting procedure, we winch up pilots. We do not use stair winches, after all, we have almost 3 km of runway (in the prevailing wind direction) and if the conditions allow it, we will winch you to just below the airspace ceiling! How long you fly depends on you, of course, as well as the conditions: on a good day, flights of 1 hour or longer are no exception (as you can see on xcontest)!
The winching day ends when it’s done: this depends on the pilots themselves, the evolution of the weather, time of year and/or other factors. We clean up everything together and check once more that no material is left behind at the airport, as it must be ready for the military the next day! After a nice chat over a fresh drink, we finish up a satisfying day of winching!
Certification Requirements
- We do not provide Paragliding/Delta training courses: you must already be a licensed pilot if you want to join us as a pilot. You’ll find more information on free flight courses in Belgium on the site of the BVVF.
- We do help licensed Paragliding/Delta pilots get started with winch flying.
- All licensed pilots fly on their own responsibility.
- We do provide SWIFT training courses.
Material Requirements
- You are required to show your identity card and to check-in when entering the base. Keep this in mind when departing on a cross-country flight!
- All pilots are expected to bring all their own flying equipment. This includes paragliding, delta, harness, radio, winch connector piece, instruments, adapted clothing, etc…
- A limited number of winch connector pieces and radios are available to new members.
- We don’t perform stepped winching, so a ‘normal’ winch connector is sufficient (ask a club member for more information).
- The club will provide the shared equipment required for the winching activities. This includes the winch itself, a local radio, a quad to pull out the cable, fuel, etc… The regular usage of this material is included in the annual membership fee.
- You can safely leave your equipment at our shelter.
- You bring your own food and drinks. as we are out on the airfield all day.
- There is a fridge with fresh drinks in the shelter, which is to be refilled by/for the club members.
Insurance Requirements
- Avia Airsport does not offer personal insurance.
- To participate as a pilot in free flight activities, you must be licensed and in possession of a valid civil responsibility insurance. You’ll find more information on the site of the BVVF.
- You should verify with your insurance provider if flying sports are covered! Many insurance companies classify parapente, delta and sailplane flying as ‘dangerous activities’ and hence do not cover them.
- We advise you to insure your own material.