Kite Flight, Safety First!!!!!!!!!!
(Compliments of Windstar Kites & Fly Pittsburgh Kite Club)
Note: Please feel free to Print these safety rules. You should use one letter size sheet of paper, or if you wish, card stock (letter size, but heavier 80# or 100# thickness). Place only one sheet in your printer. Your printer will print that sheet, then tell you that you are out of paper, at which time you re-insert the paper that printed the first page (only this time insert it in the paper tray, so that the blank side will be printed). Once printed, simply fold to form a tri-fold "Kite Safety Field Card". Then keep the field card with your kite gear at all times for your reference, and to share with others on the flying field.
*Never fly near power lines or try to free a kite caught in a power line. Call your local power company instead. Carbon spars used in most Sport kites are good conductors, and are very dangerous if caught in power lines. To see what happens to a kite when contacted with power lines, visit http://windstarkites.com/WindandWeather.htm
*Never fly in stormy weather (remember Ben Franklin was very lucky not to have been killed by his famous experiment).
*Never fly near trees; Your kite might get cut loose and out of control and it could damage both people and their property. Several people this year have had damage done to the finish on their cars and several kites have landed on people. When you consider the size of our fields, there is no reason for this.
*Never use metallic flying line.
*Never fly your kite near or over people. Politely instruct all spectators to stand behind you when your kite is being flown. Remember, the safety of others is the responsibility of the flyer!
*Always be aware of your surroundings and mindful of others.
*Avoid all other obstacles; besides the risk of entanglement in trees, you should not fly near roads & vehicles, and make sure that your flying area does not have obstructions such as posts and holes.
*Special rules apply when flying near any Airport. If flying a kite within two miles of an airport, FAA regulations prohibit the use of any kite weighing over five pounds, and it is not permitted to fly any kite on line longer than 500 feet in length.
*Always use extreme caution when flying large kites. It is considered by many to be advisable to Wear gloves when handling large kites. Never leave them unattended. Winds can change direction and intensity very quickly.
*Sport & power kites need to be flown with particular care. Make sure that your kite can not self launch when setting up your kite, and follow all safety rules and instructions for the type of Sport or power kite you are flying. If a kite you plan to fly did not come with safety instructions, make sure you acquire the proper knowledge to safely control the kite. Periodically inspect your kite for broken or split spars and verify that the bridle and flying lines are not excessively frayed or worn. Also, do not leave your kite lines unattended while staked or lying on the ground. You do not want people to trip over your sport kite lines.
* Fastening yourself to your kite line can lead to painful, serious injuries. Extra caution should be used if using a harness when traction or power flying. A harness should not be engaged if there is any doubt that total control can be maintained. It is also advisable to use a quick release system if you are attached to your kite.
*Never over power yourself with a kite too large for wind conditions or fly a kite that you can't safely control.
*Never cut line and release a kite (the only exception to this rule is within the confines of a controlled fighter kite battle).
*Always be prepared for the worst. Fly your kite with the assumption that you will lose control and crash at anytime due to pilot error or equipment failure. With this mindset, you will ensure that your flying area and the immediate surroundings are free of people and the other dangerous circumstances mentioned above.
*****General rules of thumb to maintain Line Safety:
*Kevlar line will cut all other lines (for this reason, this line is very seldom used in kite flying, except under special applications)
*Fighter kite Line (waxed line or glass coated), will cut most other lines, depending on the line. Tradition Fighter Kite Line is meant to be used for cutting lines of other Fighter kites. In fighter kite competitions of this nature, the last fighter kite that remains in the sky is the winner. Fighter kite (cutting line) should not be used for any other type of kite flying.
*Cotton line will cut most lines (except Kevlar), because it is a natural fiber and has no oil based byproduct within its fibers. Cotton line is used mostly for inexpensive kites.
*Dacron line will cut Spectra (but not Cotton or Kevlar). Dacron is commonly used for used for single line kites.
*Spectra line will be cut by all other lines (including Spectra/Dacron blends, sometimes called Sport line). Spectra is the ideal line for Sport and Power kite flying because it has very high strength, but very low stretch, with the capability of having many wraps in the lines, and the flyer can still maintain control.