Oz Report

The Forbes Flatlands - Task 1

(This topic is in: <-- Jan.9 Jan.8 Jan.5 Jan.4 Jan.3 3.001 -> )

We go a hundred miles on the first day. (Forbes airfield)

The first day is filled with a bit of chaos as the organizers try out an Australian/Bill Moyes version of the standard Quest Air/Flytec/Big Spring system for launching and staging folks.  Attempting to do three lines spreads the ground resources too thin (I've mentioned and written about this numerous times, but no one ever listens to me) and there is no one to marshal the lines and get everyone lined up in the right spots.  The staging lines aren't filled by WPRS order as they requested (which is very hard to do anyway and requires many more ground resources).  The setup area is next to the staging line (in fact in the staging line) so that makes it so you can't have a proper staging line.

But who cares?  Then, the three start times are set starting at 2:30 PM, but it's already 1 PM, and no one is ready to get going.  There is no pilot briefing and there is supposed to be a half hour of open launch window for those not in ordered launch.  There is too little time for this to happen, and I just get ready and get in the launch line in ordered launch (only the staging was supposed to be ordered, but it wasn't).

I get behind a trike at 1:30 PM for my first tow on a Moyes LiteSpeed in a year, my first tow on a flex wing in a while, and I'm off for the best tow ever behind a trike.  There are thick raining type clouds covering half the sky and cu's in the other half.  I find lift right away to 6,000' MSL (5,300' AGL).

The task is 160 kilometers to the west with a fifteen km start circle.  The top 30 rated pilots have to take the 2:45 PM start gate, others are free to go at 2:30 PM and 3 PM.  Then somehow between Tim Cummings and Gerolf Heinrichs, the start times continues on indefinitely perhaps acknowledging the lack of time we have to get everyone up for the three start times.

We wallow around the start time getting lower as more clouds come in to shut down the lift.  I see Oleg Bondarchuck heading south toward the sun light and chase after him.  I don't find anything but spot two pilots turning even further south.  I head for them and before I get there I find a good thermal.  I start climbing fast and Oleg, Mikki, Lukas Bader, Steve Moyes and others come in and join me in the thermal.

We're high as the 2:45 start time opens and Mikki, Lukas, Oleg and I are the top guys in the lead gaggle as we head out way south of the course line.  The sky is opening up in front of us with little semi-cu's ahead to mark lift perhaps.  The four of us fly together spreading out to find lift and hanging in weak lift, which is mostly what we find.

Then 50 km out from the start I charge ahead thinking that the lift is dying and these guys will join me, but they don't.  There are some reasonable looking clouds ahead so I was actually heading for something that I thought would work well, but they were weak.

I get down to 1,300' AGL, but start climbing well, as I watch Mikki, Lukas and Oleg one thermal ahead of me.  It is slow going for a while with Jonny Durand underneath me, but finally I find strong lift and get going again.

I spot Lukas, Mikki and Oleg out in front of me but low.  As soon as one of them starts turning and flashing his wings I race to join them in the thermal.  It is great to catch the lead gaggle once again.  But I'm not alone in this.  Others are sneaking by as we climb up.

I leave a thermal one turn too late and these three get away from me again, as we head for goal.  Finally the lift gets good as we get into the blue and I find 700 fpm, the best lift of the day 175 km from goal.  I can't pass this up, but then I can't get down at goal and come in at 2,500' AGL in about the twelfth position.

Apparently the lead gaggle was a little too slow, which I felt at the time, as we were always climbing in weak lift and no one was willing to jump out in front, not even Oleg who often does this.  Of course he said that I was down to 500' at one point, so that might have slowed him down a little.

About a third of the field made goal.  Gerolf and Seppi did not get much past the start circle (at least the first time).  This means that I'm ahead in the contest between Gerolf and I for the Moyes LiteSpeed.

Discuss Forbes Day 1 at the Oz Report forum

FAI/CIVL - Max Bishop responds

The president of the FAI responds to my request for a clarification re the FAI Code of Ethics (Quest Air)

Max Bishop <maxb> writes:

First, let me correct one misconception that seems to be creating confusion.  FAI has no jurisdiction over local, regional or national competitions.  These are entirely matters for national and local governing bodies (although these bodies frequently choose to follow international rules).  FAI is the representative governing body for INTERNATIONAL air sports events.  Its status as the sole body empowered to sanction official World Championships and other similar events in air sports is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), as well as by the numerous national governments that make subsidies to competitors and associations dependent on membership of recognised international federations (I know that this does not apply to the USA, but it's a very important consideration in many countries).

In response to uncomplimentary comments made by some of your readers in the Oz Report forum, FAI is answerable to its national member organizations, and operates according to widely accepted principles of democratic accountability, good governance and transparency.  Our Annual Reports are available on-line (<http://www.fai.org/general_conference/2005> for 2005 - the 2006 report is currently in preparation).

Why is it important that only one body should have the power to sanction "World Championships?" First, a World Championship exists, amongst other things, to produce a World Champion.  If there are several people claiming that title, on the basis of various different contests carrying that name, the currency is devalued.  Nobody knows who is really "the best".  We want to make sure that THE World Champion receives the universal recognition he or she deserves.  Second, it is not desirable for top-level athletes to have to make judgments about which World Championship is the "real" World Championship.  For their sake, the international contest structure should be clear and unitary.  Third, the public (including sponsors and TV) has no patience with sorting out rival claims to legitimacy.  They want to know which is the official contest.  Some other sports have learnt, to their cost, the grave damage caused by having multiple international governing bodies (some the creatures of single powerful individuals).

Please remember the unique power of the word "Championship".  It is a competition that generates a "Champion".  A Champion must be a Champion of somewhere (World Continent, Country, State, City, School etc).  That implies a duly appointed structure representing that entity or geographical unit.  Different considerations apply to words such as "Challenge", "Trophy", "Shield" "Cup" etc etc.

You wrote:

"Flip Koetsier directed me to you regarding questions about the FAI Code of Ethics (quite a document).  The basic question is does a section of the FAI Code of Ethics apply to me, as I will be the 2007 Class 1 Worlds meet director next August."

I think it is really for you to decide this - remember that the Code is only a set of guidelines.  Surely the question is rather: Is there any reason why the Director of the official Class 1 World Championship should not observe the elementary ethical principles set out in the Code?

You wrote:

"In referring to an article I wrote recently http://ozreport.com/10.252#2 .Flip wrote to me:

"I read your recent report about the so called "Flytec World Championship" with surprise.  Perhaps you (or the organiser) did not know that NACs which are members of the FAI are party to an agreement that only championships sanctioned by the FAI may be described as World or Continental Championships.

"As a member of the organisational team for the 2007 World Hang Gliding Championship and therefore a representative of your NAC I hope you will understand that it is inappropriate for you to publicise an event in such a way."

"When I questioned Flip about this he responded:

"I know that you now wear two hats, but you must appreciate that by taking on an official role World Championship director, you are exposing yourself to a possible conflict of interest, to which the FAI Code of Ethics applies (see : http://www.fai.org/documents/otherdocs/code_ethics) .  If your duty as a journalist conflicts with your duty as World Championship director, you should refrain from controversial journalism.  You can't play poacher and gamekeeper simultaneously.

"I responded that:

"Here is what I believe to be the relevant section in the FAI Code of Ethics (http://www.fai.org/documents/otherdocs/code_ethics ): All members of FAI staff and elected or appointed FAI officials with decision-making power shall observe the following principles regarding conflicts of interest :

"Here is what the FAI Sporting Code General Section says:

"4.  3.4 OPERATIONAL OFFICIALS.  The NAC organising a First Category International Sporting Event shall appoint an Event Director, Deputy Director, Stewards, Public Relations Officer (PRO), and other functionaries as required.

"I take this to mean that I am not an "FAI official" or not an "appointed FAI official" as per the FAI Code of Ethic, and the section in the Code of Ethics that follows the above quote therefore does not apply to me.  True?"

With respect, I think that literal interpretation of this small-print will not move us forward if you reject the basic premise that, by accepting a major job in a FAI-sanctioned World Championship, you are implicitly agreeing to act in a way that is not detrimental to the aims, objectives and ethical standards of FAI.

Flytec is a commercial company.  It has no democratic right to set itself up as a body authorized to designate a World Champion.  As you or somebody on your site rightly pointed out, this is a matter between FAI and Flytec.  All that Flip Koetsier was doing, as far as I can see, is pointing out to you that you have responsibilities towards FAI as Director of the Class 1 Worlds.

Let me ask you (Davis Straub the contest director designate, not the OZ-Report Editor) a simple question: Do you accept that it is in the interests of the entire world hang gliding and paragliding community that there should be only ONE World Championship in each Class/Category, and that this Championship should be the one that is duly sanctioned by FAI/CIVL?

If you cannot accept that statement, then I feel that we have a real problem, not just a potential conflict of interests.

You wrote:

I also assume that FAI/CIVL isn't interested in applying prior restraint to the free press.  True?

Of course we are not interested in constraining the free press.  We always welcome comment, although we naturally prefer it to be well-informed and polite.

Discuss Max Bishop at the Oz Report forum

Davis - ethical or not?

I respond to Max Bishop's email, claiming that the CIVL President has acted unethically. (Quest Air)

I wrote to Max:

First, I have nothing what so ever to do with the naming of the "Flytec World Championship." I am just making the name of the meet known through the Oz Report.

Second, I suggest that the best course of action would be to address with Steve Kroop and Jamie Shelden why they have chosen to name the meet the "Flytec World Championships." You and Flip may have something to learn from speaking with them directly and not harassing me about their name.

Third, CIVL has already dealt with this issue previously ten years ago and now automatically sanctions the Paragliding World Cup series.  Seems to me that the word "World" is a bit flexibly used by CIVL already.

Fourth, I certainly agree that the 200 people who give a fig should not be confused about who is the "real" world champion.

Max wrote above:

I think it is really for you to decide this - remember that the Code is only a set of guidelines.  Surely the question is rather: Is there any reason why the Director of the official Class 1 World Championship should not observe the elementary ethical principles set out in the Code?

My response is:

Hmmm?!  Now that you put it that way, of course not.

But, when you actually look at what the "Code of Ethics" says then it is not so clear what one should do.  The language is very imprecise and really refers to "Conflicts of Interest," which don't seem to apply in my case.

What we need are very specific examples of behavior that represents a "Conflict of Interest."

What I really find reprehensible (and unethical) here is Flip's implied threats to me using his implied power as the CIVL President.  Did he act ethically?  I don't think so.  He should have dealt directly with Steve and Jamie and left me out of the discussion totally.  I still have not received his apology.

Max wrote above:

With respect, I think that literal interpretation of this small-print will not move us forward if you reject the basic premise that, by accepting a major job in a FAI-sanctioned World Championship, you are implicitly agreeing to act in a way that is not detrimental to the aims, objectives and ethical standards of FAI.

My response is:

Of course, I agree to act in an ethical fashion, but I agree to do that every day of my life.  For example, every criticism I offer to the FAI/CIVL is meant to counter actions by FAI/CIVL officials that are detrimental to the aims of the FAI/CIVL.

Max wrote above:

Flytec is a commercial company.  It has no democratic right to set itself up as a body authorized to designate a World Champion.  As you or somebody on your site rightly pointed out, this is a matter between FAI and Flytec.  All that Flip Koetsier was doing, as far as I can see, is pointing out to you that you have responsibilities towards FAI as Director of the Class 1 Worlds.

My response is:

And what might those responsibilities be?  To not make pubic the fact of the existence of this meet?  That seems to be Flip's contention.  Do you agree with him?

Max wrote above:

Let me ask you (Davis Straub the contest director designate, not the OZ-Report Editor) a simple question: Do you accept that it is in the interests of the entire world hang gliding and paragliding community that there should be only ONE World Championship in each Class/Category, and that this Championship should be the one that is duly sanctioned by FAI/CIVL?

My response is:

Yes, in both of my roles. 

Discuss Davis at the Oz Report forum

Blogs for the Australian Comps

A few to track during the competitions (Forbes airfield)

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/

http://glidexc.blogspot.com/

http://scottgravelle.blogspot.com/

Discuss Oz blogs at the Oz Report forum

CIVL software

Will there be an on-line scoring system? (Lausanne, Switzerland)

http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/meetings/plenary/2007

In earlier December I reported on what CIVL is doing with developing competition scoring software here: http://ozreport.com/10.243#3.  We still don't know much about it but here is the latest report from Scoot Torkelsen, with CIVL:

The future of the badges and pins and also records program is bright and technical developments and FAI investment into the FDMS (Flight Data Management System) designed by Naviter ( the SeeYou people) will make this the next area of growth as far as internet based flight information downloading and evaluation on to a CIVL website is concerned.

A large portion of the time that is spent in this work group at present by a number of specialists, is making this newly developed FAI-FDMS available for all hang and paraglider pilots world wide, by creating an online interface, capable of downloading flights and automatically evaluating the type of flights and the value of the flights, as well as informing the national organisation that this individual pilot has attained a pin/ badge or record flight.  In the future, not only will these section 7d flights be evaluated but also other competitions will be offered online by CIVL, similar to existing internet flight evaluation programs available today, but under FAI auspices.

No discussion of a competition scoring system, but that was not Scott's focus.  Maybe it is still contemplated.  This would be a very big plus for CIVL if they could pull it off.  The FDMS itself just seems to be a replication of what DHV and Segelflugszene are doing and duplications are not helpful as they divide up the audience and make flights less comparable.  But there are ways around this problem.

Discuss CIVL software at the Oz Report forum

Update your SeeYou airspace

Get the 2006 airspace maps

http://www.naviter.si/download/airspace/index.php

Other maps here: http://www.naviter.si/download/maps/index.php

Discuss SeeYou airspace at the Oz Report forum

Aeros AL-12 - motorized version

(This topic is in: Jan.4 Oct.2'05 Oct.1'03 -> )

A video of the self-launcher

Or at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5yjwvi2XeM Thanks to Jeff O'Brien.

http://www.aeros.com.ua/structure/al/al12m_en.php

Discuss AL-12 at the Oz Report forum

More on the Forbes Flatlands Day 1

The flight and the results are up (Forbes airfield)

The flight/task You can view the flight in Google Earth also from this URL.

The results: http://www.moyes.com.au/Forbes2007/Results.aspx.

Discuss Forbes - More at the Oz Report forum

Big Day in Byron Bay

New site record (Byron Bay)

Ashley Wilmott <awilmott> writes:

Last Saturday was a big day for the Byron Bay boys as well as the Canungra crew.  The club record was broken, and the first hundred mile flight achieved from one of our sites.  Previously the club record was 146 kms from Boogarem (behind Mullumbimby) to Warwick, held jointly by Geoff Ward and Brian Braby in 2002.

Geoff Ward, Matt Colbey, Gavin Ray, Ward Gunn and myself launched from Boogarem with a 3500' cloudbase, which always makes the first crossing over the back a bit tricky.  Mick Mackender missed his ride up the mountain, so he settled for Monties, a much lower hill closer to the coast.  I knew I had to fly further than Mick to have a chance at the record, and he's been on fire lately winning the Joe Scott Memorial competition from Killarney.  Matt is an up and coming cross country pilot who is putting in some great efforts now that he's on an Airborne C4 13.

I had the goal of 160 km, 20 kms past past Warwick, and managed to just save myself early on when Geoff and I got real low at Barkers Vale.  I scratched in dribble while he negotiated a very tricky landing in the last available put-in at the end of the valley.  After seeing him pull it off, just, I tried harder to get up and luckily found one as I drifted out of range.  Taking that one to 5000' was a relief, and the rest of the way just boomed.

Once I crossed the Great Divide over the Acacia Plateau, the sky was filled to the horizon with clouds at 10,000' stretching all the way to the western horizon.  Reaching my goal past Warwick with lots of height still, I had to push on.  The only thing was that I was out of radio contact with the retrieve car, I assumed they were way east in the ranges picking up the others.

I knew Mick was down near Grevillea, but last I heard Matt was still making good progress past Woodenbong.  Just before Inglewood I came up under another hang glider in a great 1000 fpm climb to 10,000', but lost track of them while I was trying to stay above a wedgie coming up below me.

I decided to keep going past Inglewood hoping I wasn't going to cause any problems with Kerri, our driver, who thought she was in for a shorter drive than it turned out.  I kept radioing my position, but no response.  I was on my own again past Yelarbon, until I caught up with a paraglider who turned out to be Andrew Horchner.

Not knowing what lay beyond, it was looking quite remote, and I started thinking I'd better land soon.  I left Andrew and began to pass up climbs to glide out along the road.  The air was so bouyant that I glided for ages and took the best landing I could find near a farmhouse in case my phone was out of range.  When I checked the GPS I was elated to see it read 282 kms to Boogarem, I was thinking I'd be happy with 250 kms.  Then I realized that I was only 23 kms from Goondiwindi, which would have been over 300 kms.  Still, this was my PB and the club record, I had to be content with that.

I am certainly loving my C4 13.5, thanks Rick and the crew at Airborne for the best glider I've ever flown.  Turns out Matt flew to the east side of the Acacia Plateau, at 95 km, but didn't get across.  The crew were waiting in Warwick for me to contact, and were happy to finally get a text message with my position.  We didn't get back to the Mullumbimby golf course until 3:30 am, I drove all the way home, still high from the flight.

Gav had the dubious honour of having the longest retrieve drive for the shortest flight, 1000 km round trip after landing very early at Palmwoods landing.  He wanted to make sure that Kerri found Geoff at Barkers Vale, what a guy.  We still had to drive up to Monties to get Mick's car, so it was a very late one for us.  It's great to know that we are able to do big distances from Byron, we'll be pushing harder every time these sort of days come along.

Discuss Byron Bay at the Oz Report forum

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