SAO.GEN.130 Responsibilities of the pilot-in-command

The pilot-in-command shall:

(a)     be responsible for the safety of the sailplane and of any person on board during sailplane operations;

(b)     be responsible for the initiation, continuation or termination of a flight in the interest of safety;

(c)      ensure that all applicable operational procedures and checklists are complied with;

(d)     only commence a flight if he or she is satisfied that all operational requirements are complied with, as follows:

(1)     the sailplane is airworthy;

(2)     the sailplane is duly registered;

(3)     instruments and equipment required for the execution of the flight are carried on board the sailplane and are operative;

(4)     the mass of the sailplane and the centre of gravity location are such that the flight can be conducted within the limits defined by the aircraft flight manual (AFM);

(5)     all equipment and baggage are properly loaded and secured, and an emergency evacuation remains possible; and

(6)     the operating limitations of the sailplane, as specified in the AFM, will not be exceeded at any time during the flight;

(e)     ensure that the pre-flight inspection has been carried out as specified in the AFM;

(f)      not perform duties on a sailplane in one of the following situations:

(1)     when he or she is incapacitated from performing duties by any cause, including injury, sickness, medication, fatigue or the effects of any psychoactive substance, or feels otherwise unfit;

(2)     if applicable medical requirements are not fulfilled;

(g)     refuse carriage of or disembark any person or baggage that may represent a potential hazard to the safety of the sailplane or any person carried therein;

(h)     not allow a person to be carried in the sailplane who appears to be under the influence of psychoactive substances to the extent that the safety of the sailplane or the persons therein is likely to be endangered;

(i)      ensure that during critical phases of flight or whenever deemed necessary in the interest of safety, all persons on board are seated and have their safety belt fastened;

(j)      during flight:

(1)     keep his or her safety belt fastened; and

(2)     remain at the control of the sailplane at all times except if another pilot is taking the controls;

(k)     take any action in an emergency situation that requires immediate decision and action which he or she considers necessary under the circumstances. In such cases, he or she may deviate from rules, operational procedures and methods to the extent necessary in the interest of safety;

(l)      not continue a flight beyond the nearest weather-permissible aerodrome or operating site, when his or her capacity to perform his or her duties is significantly reduced because of sickness, fatigue or lack of oxygen or any other cause;

(m)    record utilisation data and all known or suspected defects in the sailplane at the termination of the flight, or series of flights, in the aircraft technical log or journey log;

(n)     notify the safety investigation authority of the State in the territory of which the occurrence took place and the emergency services of that State without delay by the quickest available means of any accident or serious incident involving the sailplane;

(o)     submit a report of an act of unlawful interference without delay to the competent authority and inform the local authority designated by the State in the territory of which the unlawful interference took place; and

(p)     report to the appropriate air traffic services (ATS) unit, without delay, any hazardous weather or flight conditions encountered that are likely to affect the safety of other aircraft.