Oz Report

France

CIVL|competition|FAI|news|Swift|Worlds

(Aspres-sur-Buëch, France)

CIVL Bureau decided to award the 21^st FAI World Hang gliding Class 2 Championship to France. The exemption as per CIVL internal regulations was motivated by the fact that the competition will be organized by ADPUL at the same place and the same team that worked at the previous HG Class 2 Worlds in Aspres sur Buech.

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No sir, we're not going to play a CD on the sound system

High School Band to Play the FAI Anthem

We received the sheet music for the FAI anthem today from Christine at the FAI. The Groveland High School band will play the anthem at the new pavilion in Groveland (which is supposed to be finished two weeks before the start of the Worlds). She also had sheet music for a brass band and a military band.

https://airtribune.com/2020-world-championships/info/details__info

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The dates, assuming it happens as planned

blog|competition|Hang Gliding|Worlds|Worlds 2019

July 12^th through 27^th, 2019

Competition flying days: July 15^th through 26^th, 2019

http://www.italy2019.com/en/mondiali-2019/

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Better report back ASAP

(Valle de Bravo, EM, Mexico)

Interesting rules

From the local rules:

- Not reporting back, or reporting back later than 30mn after the task finish/land by time without reasonable explanation: 1^st offence: zero for the day, 2^nd offence: disqualification from the competition.

- Downloading after the specified time: 1^st offence: P = W / 10 (100 points for a full valid task). 2^nd offence: W / 2 (500 points on a fully valid task). Further offence score m (minimum distance score), unless a reasonable explanation is offered as soon as possible to the meet director. The opening time, closing time and location of scoring will be stated clearly. Pilots will not be penalised in the event of excessive delays or technical difficulties with scoring.

P = penalty, W = winner's score

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Sat, Mar 1 2014, 8:19:58 am EST

Venezuelan hang glider pilots not able to come to the pre-Worlds

Airports were closed down due to the demonstrations so that they could not get out of the country

Worlds

Condition didn't allow the Venezuelan pilots to fly to Mexico.

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Wed, Dec 25 2013, 2:18:33 pm EST

Who will be flying for France in the Sport Class World Championships?

No restrictions on pilots in the CIVL sporting code

(Lausanne,+Switzerland)

CIVL|Facebook|World Pilot Ranking Scheme|Worlds

I reported here: http://ozreport.com/17.244#0 that the French were considering putting together a team of strong open class pilots to fly in the 2014 Sport Class Worlds. Apparently the Italians are contemplating this also. As of now there is no rule against it (unlike in the US where the Sport Class is defined by the pilot not the glider) and the CIVL Bureau has affirmed that there is no restriction on Sport Class pilots.

An email has been sent out to all French class 1 and sports class pilots/competitors telling them that a new world title was going to be 'winnable' at Annecy and 'asking' them to contact the French Hang Gliding Association if they would like to be selected for the French sport's class team.

''Bonjour à tous, chers pilotes delta,

Vous êtes actuellement inscrit comme compétiteur Delta Français au classement international WPRS, en Classe 1 Open ou Sport.

Un nouveau titre de Champion du Monde voit le jour aux Mondiaux d’Annecy avec la création d’une classe « Sport » qui correspond aux ailes à mats. Plus accessibles et moins performantes, ces ailes permettent de réaliser tout de même de très belles manches et parfois même de prendre l’avantage sur les souples près du relief.

Bref, c’est toujours la qualité des pilotes qui fera la différence !

La FFVL souhaite accompagner un collectif de pilotes pour représenter la France dans cette nouvelle catégorie « Sport » :

Afin de monter une équipe, la candidature est ouverte à tous les pilotes de delta compétiteurs, qu’ils volent avec ou sans mat habituellement. Envoyez un CV sportif et vos motivations avant le 1 février''

https://www.facebook.com/FederationVolLibre

Apparently Mario Alonzi and Antoine  Boisselier will be flying for France:

6 Antoine Boisselier CIVL ID: 5834 M France 281.6 10 89.5 19^th FAI World Hang Gliding Class 1 Championship 6 77.0 2013 Pre-European Hang Gliding 4 75.0 18^th FAI European Hang Gliding Class 1 Championship 1 40.1 2012 Swissmasters

52 Mario Alonzi CIVL ID: 7043 M France 167.8 20 72.1 19^th FAI World Hang Gliding Class 1 Championship 1 63.9 2013 French Hang-Gliding Championships 12 16.7 2013 St Andre Open 1 15.1 2012 Finale du Championnat de France de Deltaplane (French Hang gliding Championship final)

http://civlrankings.fai.org/?a=326&ladder_id=1&

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Why the 2014 Europeans were canceled

The view from the organizer

CIVL|PG|Worlds

Juaki <<aladelta>> responds to my question about why the European Championship was canceled by CIVL:

You would have to ask Águst the CIVL president about this. It has been his decision even though he announces that it has been cancelled with the organizer's agreement. That is not true.

I will try to write a small summary of what has happened.

We had a very low budget for Pre-Euros and for Euros, based only on the income from entry fees, but we still think that the competition is viable, even with the high CIVL requirements. Flip Koetzier was the steward at the Pre-Euros, as Claudia could not come, because of Pedro's illness

CIVL requires that the test events be run in the same manner as the category 1 events. This means twelve to twenty staff members (event organizer, meet director, safety director, scorer and assistant, three launch officials per lane, two to three goal officials and so. Expenses and travel cost of FAI officials. The low budget does not allow this and we had to run the pre-European competition with only six staff members. I think that they all did an excellent and satisfying job.

The Bureau has recommended that this requirement be changed.

I personally was flying at the Pre-Euros, in the same way that I have done at all the test events that I have organized up to now, Pre-Euros Ager 2009, Algodonales 2000. CIVL rules do not allow key officials to fly in the competition. For this reason there was a change in the key officials and Casti the event organizer had the roll of meet director (he is an expert hang gliding and paragliding pilot and knows the local area). I did the translation for him at task briefings and was in charge of the scoring and the web site. We also appointed a new safety director because the safety director that was on the bid couldn't assist the meet. This person is Carlos Ganter, a big expert that has worked with me at the Pre-euros and Euros of Ager 2010. These changes of key officials didn't satisfy Flip and as long as I know and were one of the principal reasons of his unfavourable Steward's report found here.

I do recognize that there were certain deficiencies and all of them were going to be improved looking forward to the Euros 2014. The steward's report stated that Flip was confident that we could have a successful Championship for 2014.

Two months ago we asked CIVL, if it was possible, to delay the championship one week from the original scheduled dates. The original dates, week of 7^th to 13^th of July at Pamplona there is the San Fermin feast (bulls run). This could cause some logistic problems, basically lodging. There was also a small clash with the Worlds at Annecy that would only allow one day to travel for the women assisting at Annecy. The closing date at Annecy is on the 7^th and we would start on the 8^th. So we thought that this could cause harm. But we stated at every moment that if CIVL didn't agree with this we would still keep with the original dates.

I am a very experienced meet director. I have extensive experience in running Category 1 and Category 2 events. WAG 2001 - hang gliding Worlds at Algodonales in 2001 with 188 pilots (last and only championship with Class 1 and Class 2 together). 17^th hang gliding European championship at Ager 2010 and several category 2 events, around two to three events each year for the last ten years.

The CIVL Bureau and most important the whole hang gliding community of pilots knows my capacity to run a very successful European hang gliding championship.

So I can only manifest my total disagreement with CIVL's decision and I would like Davis to use your world wide forum as a platform to let all the hang gliding community know about the reasons of this decision. I think that CIVL is causing a big harm to our sport and over all doesn't take in the opinion of the pilots.

Maybe CIVL has to have a look at their umbilicus and ask themselves "why aren't the any bidders for the coming years competitions?"

I would like to inform everybody that we will still be organizing our National championship for 2014 at Arangoiti in the same dates as the Europeans. It will be an Open Cat.2 event and will be open to all those pilots that still want to come to Arangoiti - Lumbier. The dates will be 11^th to 20^th July 2014 or either 18^th to 27^th July 2014. We will use the same web site www.arangoiti2014.com for this competition. I will update it for next week.

From the CIVL Stewards, http://www.paragliding-slovenia.si/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=7050&p=26555#p26555:

The Stewards working on this competitions are Claudia and Flip, very experienced Stewards. A summary of the stewards letter to CIVL:

Two basic positive facts:

- Arangoiti is a very good area with interesting flying conditions

- The organizers can set up pretty good tasks

However...

- Communication with the steward during the preparation process was unacceptable.

- Changes in key officials were done without informing or consulting with steward and were unsuitable.

- The practice event was not able to demonstrate the organizers’ ability or willingness to run a Category 1 event. They did not present a well structured, smooth running organization.

- The organizers have their own ideas on how a competition should be run and several of those go against the CIVL standards. This will compromise the overall safety of the event.

- Things will not be different next year. When reading the answers from the organizers to the steward report, it is clear that they are not planning to follow some of the steward’s recommendations.

- The organizers suggest that the Nationals a week before would be the practice event, but this is unacceptable: the practice event is supposed to happen a year in advance so adjustments can be made in time for the main event.

- Pilots who will invest their time and money to be there will not be offered the standards, including safety, of an European Championship.

- The Organizer Agreement has not been respected and the organizers were aware of doing this. In other words, the contract was broken.

- It would be sad not to have an Europeans championship, but it would be far worse to have a Cat. 1 comp that disregards the standards by which every other organizer abides, or where something unfortunate happens and the CIVL knows it could have been prevented.

- The stewards strongly recommend the Bureau to review the decision of having the Europeans in Arangoiti next year, setting a clear precedent that the CIVL is serious about standards and safety.

While we now have some idea of why the Bureau cancelled the 2014 Europeans, we don't have enough specific information to see the causes of the conflict.

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2014 Forbes Flatlands

Back to the site of the Worlds

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Forbes Flatlands 2014|Worlds

Forbes is on again this summer!

1 practice day Friday 27^th December 2013
8 comp days Saturday 28^th December – Saturday 4^th January
Register on line to reserve your place
www.forbesflatlands.com

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Sport Class Tasks

At the Sport Class pre-Worlds

(Annecy, France)

Facebook|Worlds

Here.

In July 2013 will take place the first preworld test event in class Sport. The particular aspects of this class (Cf : section 7 § 1.5.1.1) enforce thinking about an adapted competition format, in order to match the specifications of these wings. The first role of class Sport is not to copy the performance requirements like in usual tasks suited to class 1 wings. Some values are to be promoted, in order to organise a competition awarding titles in class Sport. Favor distance flying more than speed on a circuit. Encourage and value pilot's initiative and strategy more than performance of the different wings in this class. Enhance ease of use and control of the class Sport gliders. Favor confrontation with fair play. Improve safety, given that pilots' levels might be very uneven.

The sport organising proposals thereafter try to always keep in mind "class Sport spirit" while referring to those principles.

1. Competition organisation

Tasks planning: 3 and 4 July: free tasks (training). 5 to 10 July: 6 free tasks days. 5 to 10 July: 6 technical demonstration and landing accuracy days. 11 and 12 July: 2 match race days.

See much more at the link above.

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It's a Mads, Mads, Mads Worlds

An alternative route for Open Class Paragliding Competition

(Roldanillo)

Mads Syndergaard|PG|Worlds

http://www.xcmag.com/2013/04/mads-world-world-paragliding-series-qa/

And you have a series of dates now for three competitions. What are they?

Each event is seven days, with the seventh day being a ‘reserve’ day. We’ll be going to Krusevo/Macedonia first, from 22-29 June. From there we have a two-month break and then we go to a new venue in Greece called Itea, a pleasant coastal town on the Gulf of Korinthia, only two hours west of Athens airport.

The dates for Itea are 18-25 August. We round up this first season in Roldanillo, Colombia, from 30 November to 7 December.

Briefly, there is a lot of talk about insurance, valid or not, around Open Class gliders. Have you looked into this? What’s your take on it?

Mmmm, tricky. Basically I am of the opinion that ‘my’ guys and girls are grownups and can handle the responsibility on their own shoulders. I have made no secret of the fact that I will NOT be taking out insurance against liability claims, and since I also own no significant assets there wouldn’t be anything to gain, financially, by suing me.

We do have a fairly elaborate liability waiver, and I plan to make no secret of the fact that paragliding is dangerous and that pilots should only take off if they feel they can handle the potential consequences during my briefings etc. All in all I am of the opinion that all this would make my case a fairly strong one in the unlikely event of a lawsuit.

Besides, we specifically make NO demands to the wings flown in the Series – our stance is, you fly what you want and take the flak if something happens. The reasoning is, IF I were to start limiting the wings in any way then someone can always say afterwards that I didn’t limit them enough – whereas if the wings are up to the pilot, then so is the pilot’s personal safety. You fly it, you carry the risk.

Live tracking ready for hang gliding?

So where has it been successfully used in a competition outside of Europe?

(Lausanne,+Switzerland)

CIVL|PG|Worlds

CIVL is usually very conservative and doesn't do things until they've been proven successful at Category 2 competitions. I don't recall a Category 2 hang gliding event outside of Europe that has used Live Tracking. But this proposal (and it is only a proposal) is on the agenda:

Proposal: Add a rule in S7a (suggested 2.17.) and S7b (suggested 2.18.), stating: From May 1^st, 2014, live tracking is mandatory in Category 1 events cross-country events and test events.

I wonder if by "live tracking" they meant LiveTrack24 and the LiveTracker24 which is the only system I've seen used by all pilots for the high level events, for example the last Worlds in Italy. Or do they include SPOT which has been used in some of our competitions by some pilots. Or do they include DSX system used by some members of the Italian team (and the one that they turned off on the last day at the 2013 Worlds)? See also here.

What is the point of Live Tracking? Is it for pilot safety like here: http://ozreport.com/16.171#5, where LiveTrack24 didn't work and where the SPOT would have? Or is it for entertainment of the couch potatoes, i.e. marketing purposes? Do we want three second updates to watch the race in "real time" or are one minute or ten minute updates good enough?

How about delayed updates so that competitors can't be informed of where you are finding the thermals? Not so important for Race tasks with only one start time that paraglider pilots do, but this is not the case for hang glider pilots.

I would suggest that they fund the use of Live Tracking in a Category 2 event in Texas, or Arizona, or Georgia in 2013 or maybe all three and see how it goes. It wasn't that great in Sun Valley.

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The 2013 Worlds

The winners

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds

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2013 Worlds

And after it is over we celebrate the good times

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Facebook|Worlds|Worlds 2013

Here.

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2013 Worlds

It's a clown show, so we all dress up

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Facebook|Worlds|Worlds 2013

More here.

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2013 Worlds

The face of those who got us into the air

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Facebook|Worlds|Worlds 2013

Our tug pilots here.

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2013 Worlds

The last task

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

Last task:

180+ km from the edge of the 30 km start cylinder. Out and return in a cross wind to the north. Wind decreases as the day proceeds. 25 minute start intervals. Launch opens at noon. Should be cu's by then. Should get to 13,000'. Day could end a little earlier than yesterday. No chance of OD.

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2013 Worlds

Finally the cumulus clouds arrive in Forbes

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

weather|Worlds|Worlds 2013

It has been blue the whole contest which has kept pilots together. Finally on the second to last day the cumulus clouds showed up starting about 11 AM. They were thick and inviting as I made my way out to Bill's field at 11:30. We started pilots flying at noon and everyone was off by 1:11. Unfortunately the task didn't start until 1:50 PM.

The weather called for five to eight knots out of the west, cloud base at 10,000' or more. But it didn't call for the thick band of cirrus that came through around 4 PM cleared the cu's to the south of it near us. Perhaps I just somehow missed that huge feature. Of course it never showed up on the soaring models which don't take into account mid or high level clouds.

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2013 Worlds

The 9^th task

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

Pilots were complaining about the tasks being too short so the task advisory committee increased the length and to give us enough daylight and time to get everyone off we moved to an earlier launch time at noon. Thirty kilometer start cylinder centered to our south. Twenty five minute intervals (Zac said that he was able to make it to the first gaggle of the pilots on the previous start time in one glide when intervals were twenty minutes). First start at 1:50 PM.

With a forecast for lighter west winds we are coming back to Forbes. Great excitement from the spectators yesterday.

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2013 Worlds

Complaints

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

I've received two complaints so far during the competition both related to stopping the tasks (Task 5 and Task 6) and also dealing with entering Common Traffic Advisory Frequency areas (Within Class G, uncontrolled airspace some aerodromes operate a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) which imposes a requirement for radio to be carried and used but does not affect the operational services or requirements provided by air traffic services.).

One pilot filed a complaint regarding stopping Task 5, that was denied, it went to the Jury as a protest and was denied.

I have no problems accepting complaints and dealing with them. It is just part of the job. I don't feel attacked by complaints and encourage all pilot input on my decision making.

A number of pilots filed a complaint (see below) about pilots not receiving CTAF penalty points (see below) on Task 6, as I had made the decision to count all pilots' track logs only to the scored task time (4:33) not to the task stop time (4:53) nor to the end of their track logs. I sustained the complaint. Here is the complaint (in blue) with my answers interspersed:

Complaint Subject: Pilots not being penalized for airspace violations.

Task 6, Day 7

Pilots have been scored based on their position at the time of task stopping minus 20 minutes, consistent with the rules.

All the pilots up until the time of stopping the task were flying the task as it was set, with the full knowledge of airspace locations as stated at the briefing.

Most notable of these was the Dubbo CTAF (YSDU).

As consistent with the rules, airspace violations attract penalties as stated by 10.3 – Local Regulations.

I have no issues with the statements above, except I would refer to these as violations of the CTAF (which hang glider pilots with the appropriate equipment are allowed to transit) not violations of airspace.

Pilots had no knowledge of when the task would be stopped, so if they violated airspace before “stopping” was announced they have deliberately done so.

We have no way of knowing the pilots’ intents.

If that is the case, they should receive the appropriate penalty based on their track position at time of stopping task.

If you mean that the case is that pilots (regardless of their unknown intent) were transiting CTAF’s between 4:33 and 4:53 (the time that the task was stopped), then the issue for me becomes is there any guidance in the rules regarding how I should evaluate the track log for this twenty minute period with respect to applying penalties or not.

I have previously ruled that we should only look at the track log up to the scored time which was 4:33 and not to the stopped task time of 4:53, when considering what we should count.

10. 3 states: "Pilots will receive penalties for any infringement of CTAF's."

It is not clear if this means any infringement on the scored track log, any infringement on the track log to the stopped task time or any infringement at all at any time as seen on the complete track log.

One could consider that after the task is stopped the pilot is instantly converted to a free flyer and the 10.3 rule above does not apply. That seems to be your position.

Unfortunately, there is no guidance at all that I can find in the Sporting Code or the Local Rules to help me make a decision about which if any time to use. That means I would be making an arbitrary decision based on whatever persuasive logic was applied by the various contending parties.

After due consideration of the three possible cases of track log stopping time for determining whether a pilot should receive penalty points for entering CTAF’s and hearing valid and substantial arguments for all three of the cases, I have decided that the scorekeeper should use the stopped task time of 4:53. My reasoning is as follows:

1) The task was stopped at 4:53 and pilots were notified then. At that point the task was over and pilots were no longer flying the task. They can choose to land at this point.

2) Due to safety concerns (high wind landings) pilots should not be constrained by penalty point considerations from choosing the safest landing fields.While safety is always a concern it is after the task is stopped that would be the pilot’s primary focus.That would not necessarily be the case before that time.

3) Hang glider pilots are allowed to fly in CTAF’s (with the proper equipment) and we have disallowed this only for purposes of fairness as not all pilots will have this equipment.

4) Pilots can fly in any area if safety requires it.

Therefore the complaint is sustained.

I have now received a protest from pilots affected by my decision. The protest just goes directly to the jury. I have nothing to do with the protest and have no problem with any decision that they make.

Before I sustained the protest I did an informal survey asking pilots in the tow paddock which of the three options I should use and why. I got reasoned arguments for all three options. Therefore any decision that I made among the three would appear to make 2/3^rd's of the pilots unhappy.

Here is what one pilot wrote at the time I received the complaint about task 6:

I declare that I will be advantaged if the decision is reversed, and penalties imposed. I did not breach CTAF. I am motivated to ensure that we develop a strong safety culture.

The organisors are to be commended for allowing pilots to make decisions to maximise safety, to allow pilots to penetrate CTAF if that is the safest thing for them to do. Note that aviation law allows pilots to penetrate airspace for the purposes of flight safety.

In this particular event, the terrain we were flying over did pose risks to pilots if they were blocked from safe landings due to CTAF penetration penalties. In this case, the flying conditions were dangerous twenty minutes before the stopped task.

The key point is this: The ability to maintain options for flight safety ahead of a stopped task is just as important as maintaining it after a stopped task.

Here is the local rule with respect to CTAF's:

10. 3 CAR 166 airfields

The task advisory committee is required to set tasks that keep us outside of the ten nautical mile wide (18.52 km radius) cylinder around airfields (CTAF's) designated by CAR 166 (other than Parkes CTAF) or other CTAF where we have permission. All turnpoints and goals (other than at the Forbes and Parkes airfield) are outside these cylinders except where we have obtained permission. You can see the cylinders here: http://vhpa.org.au/siteguidemap.html.

Pilots will receive penalties for any infringement of CTAF's.

Penalty points for CTAF violations: ((distance in meters)/400) x ((distance in meters)/400) x ((distance in meters)/400)

The parameter DIST (in meters) is the max distance the pilot intrudes into the CTAF, determined from pilot's tracklog. The formula is strongly progressive so as to discourage pilots playing tactics with the CTAF issue (but with a minor penalty for inadvertent intrusions). If a pilot infringes several CTAFs on a given day, the penalty is cumulative.

Example: DayWinnerScore = 950

The graph shows that intruding 400m you will lose less than 1 point, but at 3000m the penalty is around 400 points.

Penalty (400m) = .95, Penalty (1000m) = 14.844, Penalty (2000m) = 118.75

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2013 Worlds

Pilots at goal on task 7

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

Watching the track logs it looks like plenty of pilots have made goal by 6:15 PM.

The meet director actually sustained a complaint of the meet director's decision regarding yesterday's task. It had to do with when the pilot's track log was stopped for scoring purposes on a stopped task and whether or not he or she entered into a CTAF, which provides for a penalty. I assume that there will be a protest from those affected, but maybe not.

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2013 Worlds

The seventh task

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

Task 7:

Down wind (12 -14 knots) to a goal 249 km to the northwest. First start time: 2:30 PM. Launch opens at 1 PM. Four start times. Top of lift 6,000' going to 8,000'. No forecast for cu's. Wind consistent all day.

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2013 Worlds

Before the sixth task starts

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

Dave May interviews on the day of the sixth task:

http://www.warrenwindsports.com.au/blog/travel-flying-xc/forbes-2013-worlds-mid-way

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2013 Worlds

The task

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

210 km dogleg task. 82 km first leg from the edge of the 30 km start cylinder. Turnpoint at Tomingley. 128 km second leg to goal at Gulgong. Winds south at Forbes west southwest along the last leg. Three hour return trip by car.

Air space restriction to 12,500' along the last leg. No hot restricted area near goal. Pilots allowed to fly through Parkes CTAF with official on the radios.

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2013 Worlds

Lines up yesterday for task 4

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

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Mark Fox's photo:

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2013 Worlds

Task 5

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

35 km exit start cylinder centered to the southwest of Forbes airfield. About 10 km from the airfield to the edge of the cylinder. 114 km from the edge of the start cylinder to Cumnock to the northeast (downwind). Then cross wind 21 km to the north northwest to Yeoval. Then upwind 45 km over a small range to Tomingley. Then south 18 km cross wind to the grass airfield just east of Peak Hill next to the golf course. A very tough task if the wind is strong.

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2013 Worlds

Jim Prahl towing

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Facebook|Worlds|Worlds 2013

British team blogging: http://www.pressbhgc.blogspot.com.au/

The water truck hitting the wrong end of the runway:

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2013 Worlds

Getting ready for the third task

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

Light winds today so we are doing a triangle:

The goal is a fifteen hundred meter radius cylinder so that it should keep us away from the fire bombers at the airfield. Hang glider pilots will be coming in from the south east from Grenfell.

I made sure that we made a shorter task today, with a low top of the lift at maybe 6,000' if we are lucky. Winds are light a bit lower than the inversion but could be stronger right near the top. Lift should be slightly better than yesterday but not up to Forbes' normal high strength.

Seppi:

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What's a valid track log point?

What judgment do we use when evaluating a track log?

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds

From the sporting code:

15. 4.5 End of Speed Section

Where the point being claimed is the end of a speed section and the track-log has 2 points either side of the sector boundary at most 30 seconds apart, then the finish time will be interpolated from these points (constant speed being assumed). Otherwise a finish time is taken from the first (in time) point outside the boundary of the speed section; if the end of the speed section is a goal sector then this will be the first (in time) point within the goal sector.

15. 5.2 Minimum Track-log Evidence

The verification software must confirm that all points used to verify the flight occurred at reasonable times (e.g. on the day in question, between the start of the task and the end of the task, and showing the correct chronology of start and turn points).

15. 5.9 Rejection of Track Log

The competition organiser has discretion to reject any track log, or part thereof if he/she feels it does not show sufficient evidence that the claimed data is genuine. In such cases the pilot is to be awarded zero points for the round.

The Sporting Code does not provide the scorekeeper with much guidance about how to deal with track logs that have position errors in them. As a scorekeeper I have seen many GPS track logs that have what in my judgment are obvious position errors and I discount those track log data points. Scott Barrett's track log going into goal on the first day of the Worlds presents interesting data interpretation issues that are not normally encountered. The question becomes which track log data points are "valid" and which are not.

In addition, can track log data points that have obvious positional errors still contain valuable data that can help one determine the actual track of the pilot? What evidence can the scorekeeper use to help him make a judgment to determine which track log data points have validity and which do not?

Are witnesses useful in making this judgment call and is it valid to use statements from witnesses? Can the scorekeeper attribute to the pilot his implied intent to get to the goal cylinder directly and as soon as possible as a way of judging which track log data points are valid or partially valid?

It is clear to me that there is no automated way to determine the validity of any of the track log data points and that it is up to the scorekeeper to determine which points he considers valid and which he doesn't.

Regarding Scott's track log near the goal:

It was the judgment of the scorekeeper that the tracklog started containing invalid position data after 17:58:10 as the calculated airspeed to the next point was 293 mph. In addition, the jiggles in the glide path were not what you would expect from a pilot gliding into goal. Also, this jiggle pattern reminded the scorekeeper of a problem where the GPS is blocked by the pilot's body (something that happens when flying fast into goal) and the positional information gets unreliable.

So the scorekeeper relied on his judgment to determine that the track log data was not to be taken literally as defining the pilot's actual position using information that he knew about the pilot's circumstances and information that was not necessarily contained with in the track log data.

But the question becomes, which of the track log data points are invalid, and which may contain actually correct position information as they do appear to jiggle around a presumed course line into the goal cylinder.

The points time stamped at 17:58:25 and 17:58:27 seem reasonable looking at the implied speed, direction and the decrease in altitude. Also the points time stamped at 17:48:47 and 17:58:48.

The points time stamped at 17:59:06 through 17:59:33 also appear to be reasonable looking at implied speed, direction and decrease in altitude, but they are as a group significantly displaced twenty kilometers to the south. We don't know the mechanism in the Garmin GPS/satellite interaction that would cause this displacement but then display reasonable looking data points.

Using a reasonable looking data point time stamped at 17:59:01 (direction, position, and altitude) and moving the displaced points north 20 km indicates that the pilot crossed the goal cylinder before 17:59:25. This would be consistent with witnesses that Scott finished ahead of Christian who finished at 17:59:26.

There are clearly at least two track log data points, one inside the goal cylinder, and at least one outside the cylinder that are less than or equal to thirty seconds apart. The previous track log data point is 2 seconds before the data point inside the circle, but it is the judgment of the scorekeeper that this is not a valid data point, i.e. it doesn't represent the pilot's position.

It is 1.22 km away from the point inside the goal cylinder and that distance is indicated to be covered in 2 seconds. Not possible.

All the other points within 30 seconds of 17:59:38 are displaced twenty kilometers. The last reasonable point outside the goal cylinder is time stamped at 17:59:01. Seven seconds outside the thirty second limit.

Therefore the scorekeeper would choose the first point displayed inside the goal cylinder as per the rule above.

An interpolation between the 17:59:01 point and the 17:59:38 point (a distance of .9km) would indicate a goal crossing time of 17:59:26.

I have used my best thinking and best judgment and the track log data points to come up with my best estimate of when Scott crossed into the goal cylinder. The scorekeeper is restricted by the Sporting Code to make use a data point that in my judgment is not as good a reflection of reality as the calculation that I have made.

Now it is quite reasonable to state that it is the pilot's responsibility to deliver a track log that doesn't cause one to use this amount of thinking to determine when he crossed into the goal cylinder, but I would suggest that it is my experience that I often have to use my judgment as a scorekeeper to determine what best reflects reality. Usually it is a lot easier than this.

Discuss "What's a valid track log point?" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2013 Worlds

Task 2

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

166 km. One turnpoint at Bum F, 45 km west of Narromine. Landing at the Triange airfield with water bombers. Hottest days in Australian history in the last few days. Quite cool here now. Launch open at 1 PM. Last start gate at 4 PM.

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Following the pilots at the Worlds

Scattered about

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

http://www.d-s-x.it/dsxserver/index.php?page=ContestsMap&race=DELTA_IT

http://www.flytrace.com/Tracker/map.aspx?group=97

http://www.livetrack24.com/

110 degrees today. Pilots didn't complain. Two more days at this temperature and many close to it coming up in the next week and probably the week after.

Practice day today, Sunday. Very slow getting pilots into the air as the wind switched twice. Very scattered cu's. 140 km triangle task. Plenty of pilots should have made it back to the airport.

2013 Worlds - the blogs

And Facebook posts

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Facebook|Worlds|Worlds 2013

http://ozreport.com/forbesblogs.php

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Announcements

(Forbes airfield, NSW, Australia)

Facebook|Worlds|Worlds 2013

FB Event Page

Discuss "2013 Worlds on Facebook" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Get the latest news there

(Forbes airfield, NSW, Australia)

Facebook|Worlds|Worlds 2013

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/blog.html

Discussion here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/118763844883239/

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Going to the 2013 Worlds?

Contact the meet director with questions and suggestions

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Facebook|Worlds|Worlds 2013

I am discussing issues with pilots on Facebook here.

You can also contact me at davis at my web site/email server davisstraub.com.

Weather for the 2013 Worlds

On-line resource for pilots and spectators

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

weather|Worlds

http://ozreport.com/ozweather2013worlds.php

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The 2014 Women's and Rigid Worlds

The proposal

(Annecy, France)

CIVL|Worlds

Raymond Caux <rcaux> writes:

Nothing is official until it's accepted by CIVL, but maybe some would be interested in ticking that already in their agenda:

- July 3^rd to 13^th 2013 would be the Pre-Worlds and French nationals in Class. 1, Sport Class and Class 5.

- June 21^st till July 5^th, 2014 would be the Worlds in female Class 1, Sport Class, Class 2 and 5. All close to Annecy, France (near Swiss border). Main launch is Col de la Forclaz and the main landing is Doussard.

Discuss "The 2014 Women's and Rigid Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The 2013 Worlds local rules change

Now you can use 2 meter radios

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/the-competition.html

http://www.fai.org/download/CIEA/yac/7407_LocalRegulations-V2.pdf

Transceivers that may be used in Australia are 477 Mhz Australian UHF CB band units, Airband (108-137Mz) radios or Amateur 2m band (144-148MHz) units (see below).

· UHF CB radios must be approved for use on Australian UHF CB bands. This means that the radios need to be approved to A/NZS 4365 and carry the "C" tick.

· 2 Meter Amateur band radios may be used only by qualified Amateur operators on authorised amateur band frequencies only . Operators should bring a copy of their qualification to be shown on demand.

· All users of Air Band radios must hold the appropriate Air Radio Operator qualification.

The previous rule:

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29195

Radio transceivers are required. The only radio transceivers that may be used in Australia are 477 Mhz Australian UHF band and Airband radios. 2 Meter radios are not legal for aviation use in Australia.

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No hang gliding worlds in 2015?

Who wants to put up with the aggravation?

CIVL|Worlds

CIVL has yet to receive any pre proposals for a Hang Gliding World Championship to follow the 2013 Worlds in Forbes, Australia. Maybe one will arise at the November 1^st Bureau meeting. Maybe not.

http://www.fai.org/civl-news/36377-championships-to-be-awarded-in-february-2013

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Forbes Local Rules

They are out now

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

http://www.fai.org/download/CIEA/yac/HG_Worlds_Forbes_2013_Final.pdf

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/

Honor is only found on the battlefield

And not in politics

(Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona, USA)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

So the currently ranked top five pilots now have a position that, surprise, surprise, benefits the current top five ranked pilots. Instead of being willing to test themselves against all comers at the 2012 Santa Cruz Flat Race, they have decided to do away with any uncertainty and declare themselves the US National team eligible to go the 2013 Worlds in Australia in January.

Never mind that this is not how the author of the rule interpreted the rules. Never mind that this is not how the person responsible for calculating the ranking interprets the rules. Never mind it was never the intent of the rules to cut off a major US competition and not count it if there was time between it and the Worlds for pilots to make travel plans.

They seem to think that they can figure out the intent of part of the rules (ignoring the intent of the other part of the rules). When the going gets tough, the thinking gets muddled.

At least they realize that they have a conflict of interest, which somehow doesn't preclude them from pontificating and lobbying for their favored position.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/deluded-individualism/

There is a curious passage early in Freud’s “Ego and the Id” where he remarks that the id behaves “as if” it were unconscious. The phrase is puzzling, but the meaning is clear: the id is the secret driver of our desires, the desires that animate our conscious life, but the ego does not recognize it as such.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/the-veil-of-opulence/?hp

More than 40 years ago the philosopher John Rawls, in his influential political work “A Theory of Justice,” implored the people of the world to shed themselves of their selfish predispositions and to assume, for the sake of argument, that they were ignorant. He imposed this unwelcome constraint not so that his readers — mostly intellectuals, but also students, politicians and policy makers — would find themselves in a position of moribund stupidity but rather so they could get a grip on fairness.

The Santa Cruz Flats Race still doesn't count

We are all exhausted from the political effort to make it count

(Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona, USA)

USHPA|US Nationals|Worlds

It has not always been pretty, but it at least has been a thorough discussion and argument.

This is my first report on what went on: http://ozreport.com/16.161#1

After that there was a sustained attempt to get a consensus among competition pilots, finally coming down to the top five as determined by the interim ranking found here: http://www.ushpa.aero/competition/ntss1/index.php. That sincere attempt to have the pilots speak and take their consensus to the competition committee, so that it could follow what the hang gliding community wanted, failed when one pilot out of the five refused to allow the Santa Cruz Flat Race to be counted for the US National team.

I had a number of exchanges with that pilot after he made up his mind, and it was more important to him that we follow a rule that was clearly the result of an error than to support the meet organizer, whose concerns he dismissed. It was clearly a mistake when the competition committee sanctioned the Santa Cruz Flats Race as the US Nationals without realizing that its date conflicted with the newly redone rules for selected the US National team. Mistakes happen, as we are all human.

I asked him this:

If our rules happen to say that the only scores that count toward the US National team were those scored when the pilot was flying a substantially red glider, and it was the case that only one or two pilots knew about this rule until after the competition season, would you say stick by the rules when deciding on the team? Or would you say, hey, wait a minute there is an obvious flaw in the rules?

I would suggest that the four months rule is also an obvious flaw, no matter now clear it is. It is an obvious flaw because the Competition Committee sanctioned the US Nationals without realizing that it wouldn’t count for the Worlds, if the four month rule was to apply. It is on the same level of flaw as the red glider rule.

Are you willing to stick to your position in this case?

He ignored my question.

So the decision of the competition committee stands, to stick by the existing rules. But the other aspect of those rules is open to interpretation, so it is not clear, at least to me, if the competition committee wants to stick strictly to the rules or just ignore that part of the rules (thus putting their moral position in jeopardy). Perhaps it is just too difficult to understand (unlike the four month rule) so they can ignore it.

There are three interpretations.

1) 2010, 2011, 2012 (minus SCFR) count (as determined by the rule's author).

2) 2012 only counts (minus SCFR) (as determined by the person responsible for doing the calculations).

3) 2011 and 2012 only count (minus SCFR) (as determined by the pilot who was against the consensus, and clearly not supported by the rules).

The competition committee is aware of these interpretations.

So I am unclear who exactly the competition committee is choosing to be on the US National team and what criteria they are using to make that determination and whether they are following the rules strictly or not.

I had hoped that we hang glider pilots would be able to relieve them of that responsibility, which they clearly do not want, but we were unable to agree as a community.

It is my hope that out of this discussion all competition hang glider pilots (even the one who refused to see it) realize what a precious resource we have in our few meet organizers. Without them we wouldn't have a competition program. Perhaps this is the lesson that they can learn and learn deeply.

Discuss "The Santa Cruz Flats Race still doesn't count" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The Santa Cruz Flats Race doesn't count

The USHPA speaks out

(Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona, USA)

PG|USHPA|Worlds

Amendment for World Championship Selection Process

Dear Hang Gliding Competition Pilot,

Recently you were asked to respond to a survey asking for your opinion concerning the upcoming Santa Cruz Flats Race and the NTSS points earned at that race. The question addressed the scheduled dates of the competition and the USHPA rules as it relates to the application of the points earned in this competition to the selection process for the 2013 World Championship Team. While this issue will only impact the top tier of the competition pilots, it was a very debated issue and will likely result in revisions to the USHPA rulebook and the selection process in the future.

The Competition Committee debated every aspect of this situation and after considerable input from several prominent competition pilots and meet organizers they came to the conclusion that the NTSS points earned at the 2012 Santa Cruz Flats Race, will NOT be used in the selection process for the 2013 World Championship Team. The current rules states that NTSS points cannot be used for selecting an international team if the event dates are less than 4 months prior to the international competition. However, the NTSS points earned at the Santa Cruz Flats Race will still count as part of the national ranking system, just not for selecting the team for the 2013 Worlds.

The Santa Cruz Flats Race is the U.S. Hang Gliding National Championship and all pilots will be competing for this prestigious title. The decision by the Competition Committee should not deter from the importance of this National Championship and the level of competition that will take place. Your participation in this competition and every competition is an important piece of the NTSS program and continued growth for hang gliding in the U.S.

Thank you for your help and consideration with this issue and we wish you friendly skies whenever you are flying.

Sincerely,
Jeff Mosher, Program Manager
United States Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association, Inc.
This is flying. This is freedom.
<<programs>>

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Limited slots for the 2013 Worlds

Unlike some previous world championships, the number of places available is highly restricted

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

The 2013 World Championships in Forbes, Australia, will be restricted to 110 pilots.  This number is significantly less than has been the case with previous recent World Championships which allowed for 150 competitors.

Because no organizer is willing to put on a women's world championship in 2012, national teams are allowed to nominate, in addition to only their five top ranked pilots, two women pilots. This means that slots that could go to ranked pilots will go to lower ranked, specifically women, pilots instead. Seventeen women pilots are signed up for the Worlds. (You can do the math.)

Normally the women pilots have their own competition. Some women who qualify for their national teams fly in the World Championships, but this year, while they may have their own separate competition at the 2013 Worlds (separate from the main competition), they may (or will) be taking the place of ranked pilots. It is unclear exactly how women (those who are not part of the national teams made up of ranked pilots) will be dealt with at Forbes (as the local rules haven't been published).

While some pilots have argued against a separate women's championship at all, this is the first time in recent memory (if ever), that lower ranked women pilots are in a position to displace ranked pilots from a World Championship. This conflict may cause some hard feelings, as the national team size for the ranked pilots is already restricted to five pilots for this competition, down from a normal six with often additional pilots.

Currently 109 pilots are registered, one less than the maximum allowed in the competition.

Forbes support for hang gliding

$19,000 for the Worlds

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2012

The article here.

Forbes Shire Council will give extra assistance to the organisers of January’s world hang gliding titles, to be staged at Forbes airport.

The hosts of the event, Sydney Hang Gliding Club, recently sought a donation of $20,000 from council to stage the titles over two weeks in early 2013.

At last week’s July meeting, council agreed to the request, with some slight revisions.

Instead of donating $20,000 in cash, council resolved to continue its annual contribution of $10,000 but will also provide in-kind support and host the event’s official opening.

Paid registration due by May 1^st

(Forbes airfield, NSW, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2013

After a month's delay the 2013 World web site is now open at http://forbesflatlands.com.

Registration is open on April 1^st and team registration will be due by May 1^st. You'll need to pay for your slots in advance if you want to have slots at the Worlds. 110 slots available.

Aeroclubs can register up to five general class pilots and up to two female pilots. The Aeroclub must pay a non refundable deposit of $300 per pilot which is due by May 1^st.

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/payment-options.html

The Forbes Flatlands web site includes the forms needed for NAC and individual pilot registration (of those pilots named by their NAC's).

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/reg-nac.php

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/reg-pilot.php

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The 2012 Texas Shootout

Registration opens March 1^st

(Carter Memorial Airfield, Luling,+Texas)

Worlds

http://joelfroehlich.wordpress.com/

Combine this great meet with the Big Spring Championship the follow week and you'll get a great taste of the world's best hang gliding. Texas is where it is at if you are a hang glider pilot (or a glider pilot, for that matter, with the 2012 Worlds in Uvalde).

Multiple classes including the single surface class. Get warmed up for Big Spring on your topless glider. Have some great Texas barbecue.

Discuss "The 2012 Texas Shootout" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Room in Forbes for the pre-Worlds

It will get crowded there as the Elvis Festival happens in Parkes

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds

Peter Dall <<PETER.DALL>> writes:

Big4 Caravan Park at Forbes has cabins, and powered and unpowered sites. The lady I spoke to just wanted me to let the hang glider pilots know that there had been some cancellations.

Discuss "Room in Forbes for the pre-Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The 2011 CIVL Bureau meeting

The minutes are up on the CIVL web site

(Lausanne,+Switzerland)

Brian Harris|CIVL|PG|Worlds

BUREAU MEETING MINUTES Oct 2011 final.pdf. Below are just a few elements:

Changes to scoring of paragliding competitions agreed at the Plenary were implemented in FS and released before Piedrahita. New team of developers working on FS now. Improvements include online source code management for team development. One of the rule changes agreed was viewed as not well prepared and lowered the DQ, which was already in place in the GAP scoring formula. This will go back on the Agenda for the next meeting. Ágúst Guðmundsson said there is more to do, to make it easier to use, better front end, and ultimately, open source. We need a roadmap and some features and functions that can be explored and tested. The download interface using GPS dump is still a weak point. This is under investigation by Durval Henke, developer of FSDump. Brian Harris suggested a CompCheck front end for FS would be a good idea.

Anti-doping:

Discussed heavily inside this meeting and a special meeting with selected people. FAI is forming a strategy for this, to make it easy for pilots. It was agreed that anti-doping is an important issue which has been largely ignored until now. We have to see that the rules are being written carefully and correctly by FAI. In CIVL we have ignored it, and we must inform the pilots and make sure everyone knows how to handle it.

Sprogs:

Idea that not every glider needs to be measured. Put responsibility on teams. Measure one per team initially. Data is more forthcoming from manufacturers now. Helmets: Discussions have circled around and they are concluding that there are no other standards, and it is not easy to determine if/how other standards are equivalent or better. Modifications: we cannot put something in writing as we are not a standards body. The helmet manufacturer normally has information on what not to do to keep helmets certified (such as drilling holes). Has to be a common sense decision by Meet/Safety Director. Need strong decisions from organisers.

Hang gliding Pre- Worlds, Forbes, Australia.

There are a number of issues arising, one of which has been passed to us by Flip Koestier, and another by the organiser herself. The rules state that Test Events must follow the Cat 1 rules as far as possible, the exceptions being Entry requirements, medal ceremonies and FAI officials. Therefore, prototype gliders should not be flown at the test event. Regarding the question on the purpose of Certified Glider Certificates, the answer is that the certificate provides some safeguard to the organiser to reduce liability in case of an accident.

Regarding the helmet petition to suspend the helmet rule for the test event, this requires a straight answer explaining that the rules are in place, the OA requires the organiser to uphold the rules, and if individual pilots have a problem, they should contact their delegates. The Bureau is not going to make an exception to the rules in this case. This is also an issue that can change the organiser liability in case of accidents/incidents.

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2012 Forbes Flatlands - the pre-Worlds

Eighty nine now signed up after the last Oz Report announcements

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Forbes Flatlands 2012|Worlds

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/pilot-list.html

The cost went up this weekend to $300 AUD plus towing fees ($500 AUD).

Discuss "2012 Forbes Flatlands - the pre-Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2012 Forbes Flatlands - the pre-Worlds

Fifty five pilots signed up and paid so far

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Forbes Flatlands 2012|Worlds

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/pilot-list.html

Pilots from around the World are coming to the Forbes Flatlands, and pre-Worlds in January 2012. See you there.

Discuss "2012 Forbes Flatlands - the pre-Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The 2015 Worlds in Fiesch?

Just say no.

(Fiesch,+Switzerland)

Worlds

www.challengeworld.org

They've just published a 224 page book about the disaster of a competition that they had there this year. Is this a bad joke or what? Somebody has a missing connection to reality here.

Discuss "The 2015 Worlds in Fiesch?" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Cheap sea freight for your glider from the UK to Australia

Ship it in early November to get it in Oz in time for the pre-Worlds

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

PG|Worlds|Worlds 2011

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25514

I made direct contact with a freight company at my nearest port which is Felixstowe, Suffolk. I am sending all my gear (glider, doodlebug, paraglider plus most of my possessions ) For £175 plus a pick up fee of £74. It will land in Brisbane in 38 days.

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Sign up for HGFA membership and waiver on-line

International pilots going to Australia for the pre-Worlds

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

Worlds

http://www.hgfa.asn.au/HGFA/overseas_pilots.htm#

You can sign up for HGFA membership (including the three month version) and sign the HGFA waiver at the link above. No need to deal with PDF's. No need to sign these forms at the registration desk for the competition. Just do it on-line.

All competitions should have their waivers on-line.

Here's another option if you receive PDF's in emails that you can print, sign , scan and email back to the meet organizer: https://www.fillanypdf.com/ 

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Thu, Jul 28 2011, 8:27:24 am EDT

FS - the CIVL scoring program

Updated, but basically the same formula

(Sigillo,+Italy)

Brian Harris|CIVL|FS|PG|Worlds

Brian Harris CIVL Competition Coordinator at Civl_Comps <<civl_comps>> writes:

As you already know work has been patchy on FS for the last 18 months but we now have 2 more developers working on it, so future progress should be good.

The latest release of FS is 1.2.14 and the scoring formula of GAP2011 has been added. The latest PWC formula will be added soon.

A new version of the scoring formula has been added because there were changes made to the default settings and additions made to cater for the paragliding stopped task scoring , as well as a few bug fixes. The latest version gives a set of defaults for hang gliding and a set of defaults for paragliding it is intended that these defaults are used for CAT 1 competitions and that only the nominal GAP parameters are changed. The old version of the formula GAP2008 is still available in this release if it still required.

The changes made for stopped paragliding Race tasks are to give a bonus distance based on altitude above goal at the point that the task is stopped ( or scored back point) and to devalue the day, currently this has been added for paragliding CAT 1 as it was proposed at the last plenary. It could also be used in hang gliding CAT 2, but it has not been proposed for hang gliding CAT1 by the hang gliding sub committee.

The default settings for hang gliding in GAP2011 are as you have already pointed will produce scoring that is equivalent to GAP2002 (with leading points) so there should be no surprises, GAP2011 has been retro tested against a number of competitions that were scored with GAP2008 and only the occasional 1 point difference found (due to rounding up/down). It was used at the Piedrahita worlds this year and is in use at the Monte Cucco Hang Gliding Worlds.

Below are defaults for hang gliding:

http://fs.fai.org/

Just to be completely clear GAP 2011 formula = GAP 2002 formula. The formulas are the same except for a few additional features added to GAP 2002 to make GAP 2011. FS is an implement of GAP2002 in a scoring program. Just as my scoring program in SeeYou is an implementation of the GAP 2000 and OzGAP 2005 formulas.

Discuss "FS - the CIVL scoring program" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Thu, Jul 28 2011, 8:26:36 am EDT

2011 World Championships

Tomorrow we'll see if we can fly. Not likely

(Sigillo,+Italy)

World Championships 2011|Worlds

Coming into goal at Sigillo during the second task of the Worlds. Photo by Ashanta:

Discuss "2011 World Championships" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Sat, Jul 23 2011, 1:29:55 am EDT

Paraglider pilots from the Worlds on what happened there

The two winners discuss a combination of factors

PG|Worlds|Worlds 2011

http://www.ojovolador.com/eng/flyingworld//?show=1376

http://www.ojovolador.com/eng/flyingworld//?show=1382

Mon, Jul 18 2011, 9:40:19 am EDT

Damn little flying at the Worlds

On Saturday pilots flew

(Sigillo, Italy)

Wolfgang "Wolfi" Siess|Worlds|Worlds 2011

On Sunday it was windy. Wolfi said he spent more time flying backwards than forwards. But he flew for two hours and top landing and pushing out without running to launch. Only a couple of pilots flew.

A front came by today, Monday. The forecast was for up to 80 km/h winds. I assume no one flew. This was the practice day. Looks like we might not fly until Thursday (or Wednesday afternoon) as another front is coming through.

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Mon, Jul 18 2011, 9:39:29 am EDT

Via Flaminia

No signage

(Sigillo,+Italy)

Worlds

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Flaminia

We are staying at Villa Castillani just before the Villa Pascolo where all the staff for the 2011 Worlds are staying. You'll find these rural spots just north west of Costacciaro, the village just north of Sigillo, the home of the 2011 Worlds. But you may have a hard time actually finding them.

Here is the off road signage on the Via Flaminia (the main road) for the turnoff to Villa Pascolo. No sign of the Villa Castillani.

Here is the sign a little bit further down the one lane paved road to the right of this sign where it Y's:

Still no sign for Castillani.

But we know where to go (having looked on Google Earth) and here it is from afar:

And up close after driving up the gravel road:

And one building among three where we eat dinner at the Villa Pascolo:

We appreciate the opportunity to stay in such beautiful places.

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Sun, Jul 17 2011, 5:08:55 pm EDT

Gerolf and Andre missing from the Worlds

We will miss flying with them

(Sigillo,+Italy)

Gerolf Heinrichs|Worlds|Worlds 2011

Andre had some trouble with his passport being stolen and other items at an AutoGrill (restaurant) on the way to Sigillo. Decided to take care of the problems and not come to the Worlds. Gerolf dug himself a pretty deep hole refusing to fly with any helmet other than his own. Decided not to register.

See here: http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24358

We are sorry that they are not going to be with us.

Sat, Jul 16 2011, 11:48:03 am EDT

Nominal Rules

Certified helmets become uncertified if they are "modified."

(Sigillo,+Italy)

CIVL|Worlds

The meet organizers here at the Worlds apparently aren't checking helmets that have passed EN 966 for "modifications." Fine by me. I have no idea what constitutes a "modification." I have no idea if the meet personnel are qualified to determine if a helmet has been modified. I have no idea if the CIVL oversight people are qualified to determine if a helmet has been modified.
See further developments at the link below.

Discuss "Nominal Rules" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The Forbes Flatlands

(Forbes airfield, NSW, Australia)

Pre-Worlds 2012|Worlds

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/

Discuss "2012 Pre-Worlds web site open for registration" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

2012 Forbes Flatlands

Are you planning on flying at Forbes?

(Forbes airfield, NSW, Australia)

Forbes Flatlands 2012|Worlds

If you are thinking of coming to the 2012 pre-Worlds or 2013 Worlds please check out this short survey so that we can better gauge who is coming to the pre-Worlds and Worlds in Forbes, Australia.

Forbes 2012/2013 Questionnaire

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Copa Iyoma - Colombia

A warm up for the Worlds

(Roldanillo)

Daniel Vélez Bravo|Worlds

Daniel Vélez Bravo <<danielvelezbravo>> writes:

We are having a small hang gliding meet in Colombia, FAI Cat 2, from June 4 to 6, that will also serve as a training event for the Colombian Hang Gliding Team going to the 2011 Worlds in Montecucco.

Discuss "Copa Iyoma - Colombia" at the Oz Report forum   link»

US Paragliding Team

The Paragliding Worlds are in 2011 in Spain

(Piedrahita,+Spain)

PG|Worlds

http://www.usparaglidingteam.org/index.html

The 2011 World Paragliding Championships will be held in Piedrahita, Spain from July 3^rd through 16^th. Piedrahita is located in Central Western Spain, approximately 135 kilometers west of Madrid. Known for its nice lift, convergence lines, and high climbs, Piedrahita will be a spectacular site to determine the 2011 World Champions. You can read more about Piedrahita at www.Piedrahita2011.com.

Discuss "US Paragliding Team" at the Oz Report forum   link»

US National Hang Gliding Team

A bake sale to go to the Worlds

(Sigillo,+Italy)

Worlds

http://flytec.com/worldteam/index.html

Purchase one of the very cool 2011 US National Team tee-shirts.

In addition to team tee-shirts, we have some special products to send you as a show of appreciation for your support. We also have some retail items that were donated to the team to sell. Please visit the support page and get some of the cool gear or simply make a donation. Any amount is appreciated but large amounts are appreciated the most!

Have a pile of quarters lying around? Please send it!

Discuss "US National Hang Gliding Team" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The Cross Country Open before the pre-Worlds

The open distance contest before the pre-Worlds at Forbes in December 2011

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

PG|Worlds

There will be an open distance cross country contest at Forbes before the pre-Worlds. It will start December 28^th, 2011 and run through the 3^rd of January, 2011. Three days will count. I'll let you know the rules when they are available. I assume that it will be similar to the Cross Country Open, http://www.xc-open.org/, paragliding competitions.

The pre-Worlds begin January 4^th (with a practice day on that day) and the scoring begins January 5^th. The contest runs through January 14^th, nine days of competition, with, I believe, a rest day on the fifth day.

Discuss "The Cross Country Open before the pre-Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Just two more pilots

So that all six pilots could count for the team scoring at the Worlds

(Sigillo,+Italy)

CIVL|Worlds|Worlds 2011

According to me CIVL Plenary sources, in order to allow all six members of a national team to be counted when doing the team scoring (the top three scores are used each day) at the 2011 Worlds, two additional teams had to be asked if they had a sixth member that could come and fly at the Worlds. They didn't have to have one. They just had to be asked.

But the (artificial) limit of 150 pilots had already been reached and the CIVL President very much objected to allowing this to take place (slippery slopes, and all). None-the-less there is a vote of all the CIVL Representatives on these issues, and despite his objections the hang gliding committee and then the general session allowed this to occur, so 152 pilots is the limit at the Worlds instead of 150.

The existing CIVL President was made the next CIVL President by default.

Soft in the head

"Modifications" decertify EN 966 certified helmets?

(Lausanne,+Switzerland)

CIVL|Worlds

According to the 2010 version of the FAI/CIVL Sporting Code for hang gliding competitions, found here: http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/documents:

12. 6.3 Helmets

All pilots competing in 1^st Category events must wear a helmet certified to EN966 (HPG) at all times whilst flying.

My sources from the CIVL Plenary tell me that "any modification" to an EN966 certified helmet decertifies it. This includes hacking off bits as well as "installing headsets."

The Sporting Code states:

2. 17.11 Radio

Where national law permits, it is mandatory for pilots to carry a radio receiver compatible with the organiser’s published frequency for safety communications. This must be switched on in flight and set to either the competition frequency or that of his team leader.

First, most, if not all of pilots' helmets have been "modified" to install headsets which are basically needed to comply with the requirement for the use of a radio. In addition, many EN966 helmets (some purchased at the pre-Worlds) have been modified (hacked) for greater comfort and ease of use. Do mean to tell me that the Worlds organizer is going to be forced to require that pilots repurchase Icaro helmets at the Worlds?

Is this issue ripe for a pilot protest? All one pilot has to do to disqualify almost all of the rest of the field is protest that his competitors are flying with decertified helmets (how is the meet organizer going to know that a helmet is not in certified condition?). He just buys a brand new Icaro helmet at the Worlds and keeps it under a "certified" chain of custody for the first day's flight, then protests everyone else. Easy to become the new World Champion.

Discuss "Soft in the head" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The 2013 Worlds in Forbes, NSW, Australia

And the pre-Worlds next year in January, 2012

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

CIVL|Worlds|Worlds 2013

The CIVL Plenary has voted for Forbes (the only bid).

Bill and Molly Moyes going to the CIVL Plenary

To present the bid for the World Championships at Forbes

(Forbes airfield, Australia)

CIVL|Worlds

http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/meetings/plenary/2011

You'll find the (only) bid for the 2013 Worlds at the link above. The CIVL Plenary (general meeting) is February 24-27 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Discuss "Bill and Molly Moyes going to the CIVL Plenary" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The 2011 Worlds

Teams of five pilots

(Sigillo,+Italy)

Worlds

http://www.cucco2011.org/

Starting from 15 November 2010, each Nation Aerosport Association is invited initially to submit a team of up to five pilots (and this may comprise any combination of males and females). By 31 January 2011 a deposit of 100 euros per pilot must be received by this date to reserve the places.

Discuss "The 2011 Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The Australian ranking (for the National Team)

After the Airborne Gulgong Classic

(Gulgong, NSW, Australia)

Worlds|Worlds 2011

http://thebombout.com/wp-content/uploads/ladders/NationalLadder.htm

We'll see how the Australian team works out for the upcoming Worlds.

The 2011 US Nationals in Big Spring

Tentative dates

(Big Spring, Texas, USA)

US Nationals|Worlds

August 14^th through the 20^th, after the Worlds.

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It has to be done manually

airspace|barometric altitude|CIVL|FS|GPS altitude|Worlds|Worlds 2010

(Sigillo, Italy)

Both barometric pressure altitude (assuming the standard atmospheric pressure of 1013.25 mb at mean sea level) and GPS altitude are displayed by FS. Unfortunately only GPS altitude is checked automatically against airspace height limits, not pressure altitude, which is required by the CIVL Sporting Code. The scorekeeper has to manually adjust the GPS altitude with the difference between pressure altitude and GPS altitude to determine if the pilot has violated airspace.

FS has not been updated since the 2009 Worlds in Laragne.

Discuss "Checking airspace with FS" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Is the CIVL Jury fair?

Can a CIVL Jury fairly adjudicate protests brought by the pilots against the meet organization?

(Sigillo, PG, Italy)

CIVL|Worlds

http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/system/files/Sc07a_HG2010.pdf

2. 8 Stewards and Jury

2. 8.1 Powers and description

These are detailed in the General Section

http://www.fai.org/documents/sportingcode/GeneralSection_download

5. 5 TREATMENT OF PROTESTS

5. 5.1 The Event Director must present any protest to the Jury President without delay. The President shall call a meeting of the International Jury within 24 hours of receiving a protest, unless a different period is stated in the relevant Sporting Code or the local regulations.

5. 5.2 The Jury shall hear both sides on the matter of any protest, applying the relevant FAI regulations and the rules for the event.

The above provisions describe how a CIVL Jury is supposed to act. I would suggest that this is not how the protest committee at the pre-worlds acted. It was the request of the CIVL steward at the pre-Worlds that the protest committee act as though it were a CIVL Jury, as much as possible.

The protest committee, as it doesn't have a president, should call the meeting of the protest committee (not the meet director or the CIVL steward). The protest committee should treat "both sides of the matter" equally, not allowing the CIVL steward or meet officials to "sit with" the protest committee, but be called before the committee in the same manner as the protesting pilots.

Can a CIVL Jury appear to be and actually be fair to the protesting pilots, as well as to all the pilots and to the meet organizers?

Unlike a protest committee the CIVL Jury is not composed of one's peers, one's fellow pilots, so it does not appear to be a fair jury to begin with. It appears to be a jury representing a distant and non representative organization that is not very much appreciated by competition pilots. So right off the bat it doesn't look good.

CIVL views itself as independent of the meet organization and the independent of the pilots. In its view the CIVL Jury and President are there to make sure that both the meet organization and the pilot adhere to the CIVL Sporting Code and the Local Regulations. Instead of a jury it is more like a sheriff, watching to see if anyone is breaking the rules and then penalizing them, if it finds that they have.

Unlike a sheriff, it can't act on its own (although the Jury President can), but must wait until the issues come before the Jury in the form of a protest brought by the pilots. If the Jury President finds that the meet organizers are not abiding by the Sporting Code or the local regulations she has the power to stop the meet until the issues are brought before the Jury.

I get the general feeling that competition pilots do not feel that the CIVL Jury can be unbiased and fairly hear their protest. They appear to feel that it is useless to bring a protest before the Jury. That they feel that they can not find justice before the CIVL Jury.

The CIVL Jury naturally has its own institutional biases (or so it would appear) and would appear not to be a neutral party looking with new and unbiased eyes at the facts and the rules. I would just drop the name Jury, which gives them perhaps an unwarranted honorific and call them the CIVL committee.

Discuss "Is the ⁢CIVL⁣ Jury system fair?" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Grappa Mountain

Montegrappa

(Ramp launch on Montegrappa)

weather|Worlds

We're flying at Grappa Mountain in northeastern Italy for a few days before heading for a weekend competition in Feltre to the northeast and then way south for the pre-Worlds in Montecucco (Cucco Mountain). We are camped at Robert Nichele's previous family home in Cassola near the town of Bassano del Grappa, and the launch and LZ are only a few miles from here.

The site is a mountain launch on the north side of the basically flatlands stretching west to east across northern Italy from Torino to Venice. This is a view of it looking north northeast:

The point marked De Bepi is near the hang glider launch, a wooden ramp. This is what the launch looks like from Google Maps:

When you come here to fly you start at the LZ, with its large hotel and restaurant, parking area, shuttle and camping area. There is a small fee for using the launches and landing area and the shuttle is about 10 Euros (requires four passengers to make the trip).

You can see the LZ and the approaches here. The shuttle info here.

The current weather is found here. All the launches and landing areas here.

This is the site of a well attended competition that takes place at each Easter vacation (which moves around a lot). The 2010 competition waypoints indicated that they flew mostly out front to the south of the mountains.

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SIM cards for the pre-Worlds in Italy

Provided by the meet organizers

(Montecucco, Italy)

Worlds

Flavio <<flavio.tebaldi>> writes:

We'll give a SIM card to every pilot at the pre-worlds (TIM mobile). Five euros pre-paid included. We'll take a copy of the pilots' passports and the TIM centre will activate the cards the night before the first competition day.

Discuss "SIM cards for the pre-Worlds in Italy" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Not allowed at the pre-Worlds

(Grotta, Monte Cucco, PG, Italy)

helmet|Worlds

This helmet isn't allowed at the pre-Worlds and at Category 1 competitions, despite the fact that it is seen by some as much more protective than the helmets that pass the EN 966 standard:

This is the helmet that Lance Armstrong wore during the prologue of the Tour de France:

See the article on this $15,000 helmet here.

Discuss "Helmet⁣s" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

So far an unmitigated disaster

Rigid Wing Worlds 2010|weather|Women's Worlds 2010|Worlds

(LP, Neuschwanstein Castle, Tegelberg, Schwangau, Germany) (LZ, Tegelberg, Schwangau, Germany)

A look at the GFS model through XCSkies says rain/no lift through Tuesday (that is as far as it goes). Hadewych Van Kempen is saying that she planned to drive home as the weather forecast for the coming week looks the same as last weeks but she's staying for one dinner.

There were no days flown last year at the pre-Worlds in Tegelberg. So far only one day flown only by class 2 (and class 4) at Tegelberg this year. This meet is well on its way to being an unmitigated disaster.

My question is very simple. What can be learned and who can learn it?

Discuss "The 2010 Women's and Rigid Wing Worlds at Neuschwanstein castle" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

One on one ATOS races

(Oppenau, Ortenaukreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

BaWü|Worlds

Andreas W. Kohn <<andy>> writes:

AIR boss Felix Rühle is currently organizing a fun race to entertain the crowds at the BaWü Airgames. It shall take place at the BaWü Airgames in Oppenau, Black Forest – immediately after the Rigid Wing Worlds. Felix will invite a number of 6-10 pilots with a one-against-one mode.

For more information check out www.bawue-airgames.de.

The photo shows Tomas Pellicci at last year’s show. During the three days, more than 10,000 visitors got excited about free flying.

Discuss "BaWü Airgames 2010" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Selling those tee-shirt as fast as she can

Worlds

(LP, Neuschwanstein Castle, Tegelberg, Schwangau, Germany) (LZ, Tegelberg, Schwangau, Germany)

http://www.rochesterareaflyers.com/GOTTAFLY.html

She's looking for your support (see the Oz Report ads).

Discuss "Women's and Rigid Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Twenty one spots opened up at the pre-Worlds

Twenty one pilots signed up but didn't pay in time

(Montecucco, Italy)

Worlds

http://www.cucco2011.org

Twenty one pilots received an email from Flavio states that they had until February 2^nd to send in their money for the pre-Worlds. There will likely be a third cut and round for additional pilots as I'll wager that not all twenty one will send in their payments.

Discuss "Twenty one spots opened up at the pre-Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Checking with the bank

(Grotta, Monte Cucco, PG, Italy)

Delay in opening slots

Pre-Worlds 2010|Worlds

http://www.cucco2011.org

The deadline for payment has been postponed to Tuesday, 19^th, January, 2010 due to verification incoming payments.

About twenty slots appear to be open, but we'll know in a couple of days. It is 8 AM Monday, January 18^th in Italy as I write this.

Discuss "Delay in opening slots at the⁢ 2010 pre-Worlds" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Spots opening up at the pre-Worlds

A number of folks haven't paid

(Montecucco, Italy)

Worlds

http://www.cucco2011.org

Check out the pilot list. Soon there will be more spots for others.

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CIVL Bureau meeting

They met in October

(Amsterdam)

CIVL|CIVL Bureau meeting 2009|Worlds

http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/node/1115

The Altitude Verification procedures developed for, and used successfully in the HG Worlds, Laragne, will also be included in the Lrs of upcoming Cat 1 competitions and test events. This means that organisers are now able to set competition altitude limits, should they wish to, knowing that there is a workable method of verification.

The Bureau has decided to mandate that all pilots of all disciplines (except for HG Class 2) fly with safety helmets complying with EN966 in all Category 1 and Test Events from 1^st January 2010.

The discussion is linked to the emergence of live pilot tracking systems, such as DSX Safly, Spot and Leonardo. Competition organisers are keen to use these devices to add media and spectator interest to their events. Agust pointed out that there are several other advantages to their adoption, not only for safety and check in, but also for altitude verification and early scoring of tasks. CIVL is talking to other FAI commissions who are also keen to use these devices.

The minutes here.

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The limit is 150

(Grotta, Monte Cucco, PG, Italy)

Pre-Worlds 2011|World Pilot Ranking Scheme|Worlds

http://www.cucco2011.org/

Apparently hang gliding is not dying at the level of World competitions (or at least pre-Worlds) The Italian based pre-Worlds is over subscribed already, just a few days after opening the registration to the waiting list. The local regulations state:

Registration will open on 2^nd November 2009. Priority will be given to national teams of up to 5 pilots per country.

Places will be allocated starting from 7^th January 2010 to pilots on the waiting list.

Allocation will be based on WPRS ranking on 1^st January 2010 followed by order of registration for any unranked pilots.

As from 7^th January, all confirmed pilots will have ten days time in which to pay the registration fee, in order not to lose their priority position in the pilot list.

Therefore, confirmed pilots whose receipt of payment does not reach the organizers by 17^th January, will be moved to the bottom of the waiting list.

All other pilots accepted afterwards, will have 10 days to pay the registration fee before their place is reallocated to another pilot.

Montecucco - the pre-Worlds and Worlds

Coming next year to Italy

(Sigillo+Perugia, Umbria, Italy)

pre-Worlds 2011 Monte Cucco|Worlds|Worlds 2011 Monte Cucco

http://www.hgwc2011.org/

Registration opens on November 2^nd. July 30^th through August 8^th.

What am I asking of the USHPA Competition Committee/BOD?

Trying to make it simple.

(USHPA headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO, USA)

PG|USHPA|Worlds

http://ozreport.com/13.181#3

1) Divide the Competition Rulebook into three documents that each address a separate audience so that it is easier for those audiences to know the rules to follow. Especially, make it easier for competition pilots to know the rules that they are supposed to fly by.

2) Insure that all competitions used for NTSS ranking use GAP scoring, so that we have a consistent way of testing pilots who will represent the US at the Worlds, where GAP is used.

3) Reduce the requirements placed on meet organizers to encourage our existing organizers to continue and for more to join them, so that we can have a healthy NTSS competition scene.

4) Focus the new USHPA Competition Rulebook on NTSS competitions eliminating provisions that focused on non NTSS purposes, in order to let the NTSS choose the best team to fly in the Worlds.

http://ozreport.com/13.182#1

5) Either reject the Competition Workgroup proposals, or adopt them in a form compatible with the continuation of the NTSS-based competitions outlined in the first four steps above. Create a separate competition committee to implement the proposals and run a non NTSS-based competition system. The point here is to accomplish the goals of the Competition Workgroup without making deleterious changes to the NTSS.

http://ozreport.com/1252678316

6) Reconstitute the Competition Committee to have it composed of competition pilots and have two co-chairmen, a competition hang glider pilot and a competition paraglider pilot. Have the competition pilots vote for their respective chairman. The point here is, of course, to infuse the NTSS competition committee with expertise and make it responsive to the competition pilots, the audience actually affected by its decisions.

7) Set the meet validity of the 2009 King Mountain co-Nationals at 7% as per the 2006 USHPA Competition Rulebook.

All the documents that accomplish these changes are linked to in the articles linked to above.

If all the above is just too much to accomplish, I would at least like to see the provisions that I have made to reduce the burdens on the meet organizers passed.

Discuss "What am I asking of the USHPA Competition Committee/BOD?" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2010 Spanish Nationals

Pushed the dates of the Europeans and the pre-Worlds around

(Ager, Spain)

Spanish Nationals 2010|Worlds

Juaki writes:

I'm really sorry about the clash with the dates. We have moved the European championship one week because we will be holding our National Championship just before at Ager, as well. These are the dates for both:

Spanish National Championship 1 to 8 July

European Championship schedule

* 8^th July 18:00 - 20:00 registration
* 9^th July 12:00 - 14:00 & 15:30 - 20:00 registration
* 10^th July 12:00 - 14:00 & 15:30 - 20:00 registration
* 11^th July Opening ceremony
* 12^th - 23^rd July Task days
* 24^th July Closing ceremony

Discuss "2010 Spanish Nationals" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The pre-Worlds date

The Europeans move their date

(Sigillo+Perugia,+Umbria,+Italy)

CIVL|Worlds

Flavio <<flavio.tebaldi>> writes:

Because the Spanish want to change their date of the Europeans (now to end 24 July), probably the pre-worlds will be from July 31 to August 8. This would allow the Pre-Worlds only one week of competition.

I don't know why the Spanish want to change the dates for the Europeans.

I have moved the pre-worlds by one week to make it possible for the pilots to travel from Spain to Italy in one week, but we can't move in back another week. The CIVL bureau is making the decision.

Discuss "The pre-Worlds date" at the Oz Report forum   link»

The pre-Worlds in Italy next year

In Montecucco

(Sigillo+Perugia,+Umbria,+Italy)

Worlds

Flavio <<flavio.tebaldi>> writes:

Pre worlds will be from July 26^th to August 7^th.

Discuss "The pre-Worlds in Italy next year" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Thu, Jul 2 2009, 4:34:58 pm EDT

Money prizes in Montecucco

The site for the next Worlds

(Sigillo+Perugia,+Umbria,+Italy)

Worlds

http://www.deltaclublaveno.it/cucco09/registrazione.php

Discuss "Money prizes in Montecucco" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Sat, Jun 27 2009, 7:30:30 am EDT

The Worlds

Too gusty at Chabre so the day is called

(Laragne-Montéglin, France)

weather|Worlds|Worlds 2009

The day is called as we stay in town. The wind/weather station on top was reporting 44 km/h. The contest limit is 37 km/h.

The wind forecast for tomorrow is for light winds.

By 1:30 PM the winds on top had died down to 35 km/h (gusts) with 14 km/h as the average speed.

Mon, Jun 22 2009, 5:21:50 am EDT

The Worlds

We don't have to go to the top to find out

(Laragne-Montéglin, France)

CIVL|weather|Worlds|Worlds 2009

The wind speed indicator on top reported 34 km/h with gusts to 53 km/h at 8 AM. It was still quiet down in the campground but it did not remain that way for long. It was obvious from the little cu's forming just at the lip of the Chabre that the winds were quite strong at launch level.

The day was called during the weather briefing. It looks like it might be possible to fly on Tuesday.

This is the weather briefing for today for today and tomorrow.

At 11:23 AM it was blowing 47 km/h on launch gusting to 68 km/h.

The Hungarians have still not protested to the meet organizers/CIVL.

Sun, Jun 21 2009, 5:01:05 pm EDT

The Worlds

We march through town on a blown out day

(Laragne-Montéglin, France)

weather|Worlds|Worlds 2009

Give the strong Mistral winds again today we hung out and waited for the weather forecast and Mandatory pilot safety meeting. Both turned out to be useful. The meteo forecaster was quite specific about the local weather and Klaus Holmann, a legendary sail plane pilot who has a local airfield just north of Laragne gave an even more specific weather briefing showing specific ridges (and parts of ridges) that worked in two prevailing conditions as well as how the topography shaped the winds.

The safety meeting got interesting when Gerolf spoke and addressed the issue of how the pilot can maintain their safety by using their VG ropes to increase the pitch of their gliders when they enter areas of rough air (as well at many other times). He indicated that full VG was really only appropriate for final glide in smooth conditions.

He also recommended not full VG at steep launches allowing the base tube to come out a bit.

We did get to march through town with youngsters carrying our flags and country name in front of each team. The town was very receptive and many people came out to watch the parade. It was lead by a drum band, which provided a salsa beat. I couldn't get the Brazilians, who were in the parade just in front of us, to dance, but that didn't stop me dancing in the parade.

After many layers of French officials spoke and welcomed us and the FAI called the Worlds to order, we got to eat in the town hall.

It looks like it will be blown out Monday and maybe Tuesday.

Twitter for the Worlds

The hash mark to use

(Laragne-Montéglin, France)

Twitter|Worlds|Worlds 2009

#hgla

Women's logo?

Eco friendly?

Worlds

Discuss Women's logo? at the Oz Report forum   link»

"Certified Configuration?"

How can a pilot make these declarations?

(Laragne-Montéglin, France)

CIVL|Worlds|Worlds 2009

Pilots who fly in the 2009 Worlds in Laragne are required by the FAI/CIVL Sporting Code to sign the following declaration:

CERTIFIED GLIDER STATEMENT

I, the undersigned, declare that the following glider: ______ (Class, make, model) that I will fly in the 2009 Chabre Hang gliding World Championship from 20 June 2009 to 4 July 2009, is certified by one or more of the internationally recognized certifying bodies (namely the DHV, HGMA or the BHPA).

Furthermore, I declare that it is in certified configuration and I undertake not to alter this configuration. I understand that I am the sole individual responsible for the integrity of my glider. To the best of my knowledge my glider and equipment are damage-free and airworthy.

As I read this statement I would say that a pilot is not qualified to make this declaration, as, unless they are the designer, builder, and certifier of the glider, they do not have the requisite first hand knowledge. In fact, the statement is most likely not true, even for hang gliders that are "certified," as production versions are very likely to differ from the versions tested and certified.

It is only if we assume that the statement above means that the "model of glider" that I will fly is certified, that it makes any sense to sign it. But, the FAI/CIVL Sporting Code states:

12. 3.2 Configuration

A glider showing a certification certificate produced by a CIVL recognised testing body cannot be changed in any way in its configuration. A glider that has been changed in its configuration even slightly in comparison with the tested model or a glider that has not been tested is considered as a prototype and must comply with the following requirements:

"…cannot be changed in any way…" "…even slightly…"

It's kind of hard to not read those statements as an absolute prohibition against even the slightest difference between the specific glider that the pilot will be flying at the Worlds, and the glider model (or specific glider, after all what exactly does "model" mean when there are in fact changes to the glider in production) that was certified. Maybe not to the level of color changes, but not far from that.

Of course, pilots just sign these statements anyway, even though that can't possibly be true. Then they go off and fly in the Worlds.

But, given the tenor of things these days, with the FAI insisting on sprog measurements (and how that relates to certification), perhaps this needs to be considered a bit more closely. I suggest that I would be willing to sign the following statement:

CERTIFIED GLIDER STATEMENT

I, the undersigned, declare that the following model of glider ______ (Class, make, model) that I will fly in the 2009 Chabre Hang Gliding World Championship from 20 June 2009 to 4 July 2009, is certified by one or more of the internationally recognized certifying bodies (namely the DHV, HGMA or the BHPA).

Furthermore, I declare that I have not altered and I will not alter the configuration of my glider outside of the manufacturer's recommendations or specifications. I understand that I am the sole individual responsible for the integrity of my glider.

To the best of my knowledge my glider and equipment are damage-free and airworthy.

Disclaimer: There was a similar statement that pilots had to sign at the 2007 Worlds, again an FAI/CIVL requirement. I was the meet director at the 2007 Worlds. I recall that there was an issue regarding this and an issue re prototypes (as the DHV had not certified the Moyes Litespeed RS). I did not raise these objections at that time.

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Chabre launch closed during certain hours

During the Worlds

(Laragne-Montéglin, France)

Worlds|Worlds 2009

David  <<info>> writes:

For safety reasons the take off at Chabre will be closed for the period of the Worlds - 20^th June to 4^th July 2009, to non authorized pilots between midday and the opening of the start gate. There are several other sites in the region where pilots can fly including those at Aspres, Sederon, Colombis and St Vincent, St Genis etc. Worlds headquarters staff will be happy to give details of other available sites and how to get to them.

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Yet more fees for the World Championships

100 euros in insurance fees/pilot

(Laragne-Montéglin, France)

Worlds

http://chabre2009.com/

On the Pilot Information page (see the left hand menu) there is a long discussion of the various bits and pieces of insurance required to fly at the Worlds (and basically in France). It turns out that the entry fees for the Worlds underestimate the cost of the competition by about 100 Euros. We will be charged that amount to pay for FFVL membership, liability insurance, repatriation insurance, search and rescue insurance, and health insurance for the three week period.

Discuss Yet more fees for the World Championships at the Oz Report forum   link»