so if a sailboat suddenly veers into the path of this thing, what is it going to do? Collide or ditch
"GEVs may be unable to climb over or turn sharply enough to avoid collisions, while drastic, low-level maneuvers risk contact with solid or water hazards beneath. Aircraft can climb over most obstacles, but GEVs are more limited. "
In your theoretical, why is this thing flying so close to a sailboat that the sailboat can "suddenly veer" into its path in first place? The average non-racing sailboat has a top speed of only about 8 mph.
It's nearly impossible to create a ground effect vehicle that can't fly out of ground effect for a limited time.
They need a significant amount of extra power to get out of the water in the first place, so there will always be more power available to climb out of ground effect.
The maximum altitude would be limited, you wouldn't be able to climb over a mountain, or over clouds. Depends on the exact specs, but should be more than enough to clear large ships, or at least get the altitude to make it safe to do a steep turn.
Same thing as when a "sailboat" suddenly veers into the path of a heavy cargo ship. The rules of the sea are that steam gives way to sail, but physics puts obvious limits on that.
The law of gross tonnage is in fact derived from classical Newtonian physics.
Can't remember if they're considered "working vessels" over a sailboat, which would make them the stand-on vessel based on maneuverability anyway, but it's just silly to get in their way in the same way that it's silly to dawdle across train tracks.
Realistically these things aren't going to be operated in-flight anywhere close to the proximity of other craft. They'll motor from dock out to a predefined and clear[able] "runway". Once you're clear of a port most stretches of open water are mostly empty (even those within sight of shore) -- it should definitely be possible to plot "cruising-altitude" courses that never place you within (N) of a hazard. And if there is ever any uncertainty or doubt about incoming situations you can always drop down to a safer mode to chart a new course.
No. All of the major ferry routes they are proposing to serve already have a significant amount of vessel traffic. Seaglider operators will have to obey the rules of the road to avoid collisions just like any other boat.
Anywhere near significant boat traffic (e.g. in harbors), we'll be on our hydrofoils at speeds of 20-50 mph. So in these environments, we're just another boat (albeit a very comfortable, wave tolerant one)
We dont leave the foil to takeoff onto our wings until we leave the harbor. This doesnt need to happen on "runways" though. We'll already be at takeoff speed (~50mph) as we're leaving the harbor, so we really just jump out of the water whenever we choose to. This way we dont need to clear long stretches of water for a "runway", which has limited seaplane operations.
Absolutely agree: Seaglider operators will have to obey the rules of the road to avoid collisions just like any other boat. WIGs are actually already in the COLREGS (we're last in line for right of way, but on the list!), and our sensor systems will ensure that seaglider captains have excellent situational awareness.
"GEVs may be unable to climb over or turn sharply enough to avoid collisions, while drastic, low-level maneuvers risk contact with solid or water hazards beneath. Aircraft can climb over most obstacles, but GEVs are more limited. "