13.1.3 Sporting Code Section3, General Section and Annex C

Changes to Sporting Code Section3 Gliding, General Section and Annex C, Official Observer and Pilot Guide

Mr Ross Macintyre presented the proposed changes.

• Diamond award (SC3, GS, Para 2.1.3) add at the end "NACs should maintain a register of these badges and on notification by the NAC, FAI will enter the names of pilots attaining the 3 diamonds award in an international register"
• Badges and Diplomas for flights of 750 kilometres and more (SC3, GS, Para 2.1.4) change to read: "These are a family of badges that are achieved on completing a distance flight of 750 kilometres or more, in increments of 250 kilometres (ie. 750 km, 1000 km, 1250 km, 1500 km, etc.). One badge is awarded per flight for the incremental distance immediately less than the distance flown. NACs should maintain a register of these badges and on notification by the NAC, FAI will award a special Diploma for flights of 1000 km and more."
• This amendment is an optional extra following on from the above, the current illustration would still be valid, but altering as suggested below would give a picture of the new 750km badge in 2.2. The change required would be to simply place "750" on the badge illustration in place of the "1000" that currently shows.

The changes proposed by Mr. Macintyre were all unanimously approved and will enter into force from 31 October 2005

• Two proposals were brought forward by the Netherlands to remove the requirement that turn points should be separated by at least 10 kilometres. The Dutch delegate Mr. Robin Maarschalkerweerd presented the proposal and the argumentation.
  
  Sporting Code Annex A Commission members were not in favour of the proposal, as they did not see the change as an advantage to the gliding movement.
  
  Mr Terry Cubley, Australia, supported the proposal in order to simplify things, and did not see any problem with it.
  
  Mr Tor Johannessen stated that we have had this rule for many years, should we really change the rules just because one pilot misunderstands the rule?
  
  Mr Spreckley said that he had difficulties understanding the proposed text.
  
  Mr. Henderson concluded the debate and asked the delegates to vote.
  
  The first proposal concerning badge flights was lost, 6 votes for, 23 against.
  
  The second proposal concerning record flights was lost, 2 votes for, 23 against.

• A proposal to re-instate the two seater class was received from Germany. Mr Reich outlined the proposal before the debate started.
  
  Mr Linke asked if Germany wanted to have WGCs in the two seater class?
  
  Mr Macintyre wanted to know if it was going to be a separate record class?
  
  The IGC president replied that this had nothing to do with records, but if the class was defined, IGC could sanction competitions in the class.
  
  The German delegate agreed to the statement of the president.
  
  Mr Waldemar Ratajczak, Poland, was of the opinion that a two seater class is also a good idea from a Public Relations point of view.
  
  The French delegate asked the meeting to act carefully, stating that we have to consider this closely. We should not accept this, but ask the committee to look at the class structure as a whole.
  
  Mr Spreckley supported the French viewpoint.
  
  The Spanish delegate, Mr Angel Casado asked why 20 meters had been chosen as wing span.
  The German delegate replied that 20 meter is the existing German two seater class.
  
  Mr Spreckley suggested the proposal be taken off the table and given to the Champion Management Group for further development.
  
  Mr Terry Cubley said that the proposal was in line with the general development of the glider fleet, so we should go for this.
  
  The IGC president summarised the debate, and asked the delegates to vote. The proposal was accepted as a Year 1 proposal, 21 votes for, 8 against.