Tracking Working Group Report Minutes
Meeting held in Riga, Latvia at the Reval Hotel Latvija
on Thursday March 6^th, 2002 from 16:00 to 18:00

1. Review of Tracking Experiences in 2001

1.1 45^th Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett – Markus Haggeney

• First objective one was to replace observers to have a smaller competition in order to keep costs down and benefit the pilots. This was achieved
• Second objective was to provide live tracking transmission on the Internet, which failed at the first midnight. After much testing the Swedish technical team can not duplicate or account for the problem but there were no problems with the batteries.
• Encountered one logger problem but rest worked very well
• With the loggers the debriefing was fast and information was very helpful in resolving a the location of the French team in relation to the Yugoslavian border. The information was precise, easy to access and resolved their situation very quickly.
• Markus showed the tracks and the data collected to the group which was impressive.
• Issues that need to be looked at:

1. What maps to use for the Web and the need to calibrate them to the software.
2. Getting copyright permission to display the maps which may cost about 1000 Euros for one event.
3. Need a good public relations team to use the tracking information and promote it and the event.
4. Suggested that GPS’s which track altitude be used.

1.2  Swedish Nationals
        Using trackers is great for producing results but too much work to display real time tracking information on the Web.

1.3  Luxembourg

• Using modified glider loggers which give two types of altitude readings but cost just over 1000 Euros each.
• Want a safe scoring system and also will be also trying video cameras and for live tracking of balloons
• Are doing official scoring exclusively by GPS and pilots pushing a button on the tracker to mark their marker toss. Markers within a limited scoring area will be measured but others outside the area will only be measured by GPS and trackers.

1.4  46^th Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett – Markus Haggeney
        Provided the organizers have the budget for the equipment and tracking team, tracking devices will be used for the event.

2. Use of trackers is reaching a point where the CIA rules need to be revised to accommodate them (eg. Defining take off and landing times). It is suggested that the full discussion of the rules implications be scheduled in the Rules Subcommittee for the 2003 CIA Conference.
3. Work on the tracking paper needs to continue during 2003 as it is only partly finished. Draft 2 will be available on the EPAS Web page after the CIA meeting.
4. Developing the concept of using video/web cameras in the basket was suggested by Tom Donnelly and will be put on the Working Groups list of ideas to explore.
5. Recommendation that the Plenary approve the Special Tracking Working Group continue their work for the one more year to test the equipment and document their efforts.

The following are the nominations for the Special Tracking Working Group for 2002

* New members of Special Tracking Working Group

Special Tracking Working Group Motion:
That the Plenary approve the Special Tracking Working Group continue their work for the one more year to test the equipment and document their efforts.

Motion: Alex Nagorski (CDN)

The following are the nominations for the Special Tracking Working Group for 2002

* New members of Special Tracking Working Group