President's Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2006-1

January 20th, 2006

Qualifying Sailplane Grand Prix 2006

The IGC Bureau has accepted (subject to confirmation) offers from the following Countries to host Qualifying Grand Prix events during 2006.

• Australia – December 2006 at Gawler
• France – September 2006 at St Auban
• Great Britain – September 2006 at Gransden Lodge
• Germany – August 2006 at Hahnweide
• New Zealand – January 2006 at Omarama
• Russia – August 2006 at Drakino
• Slovakia - April 2006 at Nitra
• South Africa –December 2006 at Bloemfontein
• United States – July 2006 at Ely, Nevada

This support of the Grand Prix is fabulous. Our congratulations to each Country.

The IGC Bureau will now be working closely with the organisers of each event to ensure that each Qualifying Grand Prix is managed so that it meets the IGC expectations.

Qualifying for the 2007 2nd International Grand Prix

There are 20 places available for the 2007 2nd International Grand Prix and there are 9 Qualifying Grand Prix events planned for 2006.

So, how do pilots qualify from 2006 for the International GP in 2007?

The pilots placing 1st and 2nd in each Qualifying Grand Prix in 2006 will qualify automatically for 2007. This will fill 18 of the 20 places available.

The remaining 2 places will be filled using pilot positions on the IGC Ranking List valid on the day following the end of the last 2006 Qualifying Grand Prix event.

ALL 3rd placed pilots in the 9 Qualifying Grand Prix events will be ranked according to their positions on the IGC Ranking List. This will create a 2006 GP Reserve Pilot List of 9 names.

Places number 19 and 20 in 2007 will be go to the top 2 pilots on the 2006 GP Reserve Pilot List.

If any pilots who have qualified for 2007 then withdraw, the vacant place will be allocated to the next highest ranked pilot on the 2006 GP Reserve Pilot List.

Bob Henderson
President, IGC
January 21, 2006

President's Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2006-2

March 15th, 2006

IGC Plenary Meeting 2006

If the enthusiasm and focus of the Delegates at the 2006 Plenary meeting was to be measured it would surely be the fact that a total of 77 separate votes (including voting amendments to proposals) were taken during the 7 and a half hours of business on the Saturday. And there was still time for coffee and lunch and the meeting concluded on schedule at 5:45pm.

My sincere congratulations to all Delegates, who attended the meeting, for focusing so well on the business at hand.

The voting decisions are available on the IGC website. The Minutes will be posted on the website shortly.

Sir John Allison, President, Europe Air Sports, provided a thought-provoking address on the Friday and this is also now available on the IGC website. M. Pierre Portmann, FAI President, attended the Plenum on the Friday morning and addressed the Delegates on the future of the FAI.

Congratulations are extended to Ian Strachan (United Kingdom) for the deserved award of the Lilienthal Medal and to both Fransois van Haaff (Netherlands) and Martin Simons (Australia) for the award of the Pirat Gehriger Diploma. The citations for each of these recipients are available on the IGC website.

The 2nd World Sailplane Grand Prix (2007) was awarded to New Zealand.

The 5th FAI Women’s World Gliding Championships was awarded to Szeged, Hungary and the 6th FAI Junior’s World Gliding Championships was awarded to Räyskälä, Finland.
The French Federation have advised that the 4th FAI Women’s World Gliding Championships 2007 will now be held in Romorantin, a suitable airfield 100 km south of Bailleau.

The re-election of the Bureau, with the addition of Goran Ax replacing Arild Solbakken, is very pleasing and indicates strong support for the direction the Bureau is moving with our sport.

For 2006 the single biggest challenge is going to be ensuring that the eight Qualifying Grand Prix events are all produced to a consistent standard and supported by good public presentation of the event, especially on the internet. These events this year give us the chance to educate the gliding community about the Grand Prix; to show that it is not just a short glider race, but that it also creates a high level energy and excitement and inclusion by having other air sport activities occurring on the airfield.

The Bureau is intending to provide direct assistance to each Grand Prix organiser to help them prepare and run the event.

We plan to produce a dedicated Grand Prix Newsletter to keep everyone up to date with developments with the Grand Prix.

The synergies now available to us with this new glider race and the public presentation of the event that have been demonstrated give us a unique opportunity to showcase our sport and to take the sport out into the media and public arena and create interest and attract attention. From such exposure flows interest in the sport, increased activity, sponsorship potential and leverage on both the sporting and political levels.

Finally – for your Dairy - the 2007 IGC Plenary meeting will be held in Lausanne, at the Olympic Museum, on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd March. Key Dates for this meeting are:

• Proposals and Reports requiring voting must be with the IGC Secretary by Friday 15th December 2006.
• Reports not requiring voting must be with the IGC Secretary by Sunday 7th January 2007.
• All material will be available for Delegates on the IGC website on Tuesday 16th January 2007.

  Bob Henderson
  President, IGC
  March 15th, 2006

President's Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2006-3

August 23rd, 2006

Autumn/Spring Update 2006

What have we been doing for the last five months? Good question!

I am concious that I have not been in touch with you for some time.

During the past months we have seen the completion of very successful World Gliding Championships in Eskilstuna, Sweden, and Vinon, France. My congratulations go to the new World Champions and all the competitors. My sincere thanks go to the Organisers for all their hard work and dedication to the task of creating and running these events.

We continue to be reminded that we are almost totally reliant on volunteers to manage and support our Championships. This creates some challenges for us, as the Bureau, because of the pressure to have all the "bells and whistles" at the events - and especially the drive to lift our image and create a better awareness of our sport with the media and the public.

We have also seen the completion of the Qualifying Grand Prix events in Nitra, Slovakia, and Drakino, Russia. The Qualifying Grand Prix at Hahnweide, Germany, is happening right now, and we then have the UK, France, South African and Australian Grand Prix events to look forward to.

Unfortunately, the QGP in Ely, USA, did not go ahead because of lack of entries. Also, the weather was not kind to the organisers and competitors at Drakino.

We continue to learn about how to make a Grand Prix event effective and some of the challenges of marketing the event. Our experiences of this first year of running QGP events will enable us to be much smarter and more efficient for the future.

In the meantime planning progresses in New Zealand for the 2nd World Sailplane Grand Prix in December 2007. At this time, we expect hang gliding, paragliding, aeromodels, rotorcraft, general aviation and aerobatics events being run in parallel with the Sailplane Grand Prix. This will provide a vital trial of the 2009 FAI World Air Games concept.

I have been planning to send out a PowerPoint briefing file on the Sailplane Grand Prix for you to use, however, we are still in negotiations with the FAI as to the most appropriate name for the event, and so I will not send this briefing out until we confirm the name.

Finally, in two weeks time your Bureau is meeting at Cambridge at the end of the UK QGP. We have a very full agenda covering various proposals from the 2006 Plenary meeting, competition reports, a review of the QGP, matters from OSTIV and EGU and preparations for the FAI General Conference and the Plenary meeting in 2007.

Bob Henderson
President, FAI Gliding
August 23, 2006.

President's Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2006-4

Dear Delegates

A very successful Bureau meeting was held last month in Cambridge, England. My thanks to Neil Goudie, of the Cambridge Gliding Centre, for arranging excellent facilities for the meeting.

The Minutes from the meeting are available on the IGC website at http://www.fai.org/gliding/bureau2006_2 and also via a link from the IGC homepage. You will see that we have a large number of action items from the meeting.

Planning for our plenary meeting in 2007 is underway. We have confirmed our intention to provide a programme that will involve the Presidents of all national gliding organizations in discussions on the Saturday. I will be writing to all Presidents shortly to formally invite them to join us for dinner on the Friday evening and to the plenum session on the Saturday morning.

We have now completed six qualifying Grand Prix events. It is great to see that pilots who have missed qualification for 2007 are prepared to enter in another Grand Prix in order to qualify. Such is the spirit of the competition. The South African QGP and Australian QGP events will be held in December, creating more opportunities for pilots to qualify.

As a Bureau we have been concerned about the gap in Grand Prix events between January 2007 and December 2007. We are now exploring the possibility of filling this gap with a series of Grand Prix style races in the northern hemisphere summer season.

I am pleased to be able to tell you that we have reached a successful conclusion to a small problem about the naming of our Grand Prix. The use of the name “World Sailplane Grand Prix” has been disputed by other parties. To cut a long story short, we have now agreed with the FAI Executive Board that the IGC will retain the name “Sailplane Grand Prix (SGP)” to clearly identify this type of glider race. At the international level, then, Air Sports Ltd will market an event called “FAI World Series Gliding” with the SGP being the glider race used for this event.

Looking at our FAI World Gliding Championships we have decided, after being invited to visit Rieti in September to review their preparations for 2007 and 2008, that we should be more pro-active in helping WGC Organizers.

This is part of the role of the Chief Steward, but we have now decided that this role will include the Chief Steward, in company with a Bureau Member, visiting each Organizer and their WGC site six to nine months prior to a WGC. The purpose of this visit will be to see how preparations are progressing and to see what assistance we may be able to provide to them.

The FAI General Conference has just been completed in Santiago, Chile. The format of Conference was adjusted to allow time for discussion topics and to work on the organization of the 2009 World Air Games.

While in Santiago I had the opportunity, along with many others, to visit the Santiago Gliding Club. They have done something quite dramatic – they have managed to protect their gliding site and to also develop it as a “public reserve” within the city boundaries. I hope that we will be able to have members of the Club make a presentation on the Saturday morning to the 2007 Plenary meeting so that we can learn from them about the development and implementation of their very successful strategy.

The 2007 Plenary meeting will also decide the venues for the following competitions:

• The 2010 Open/18 meter/15 meter World Gliding Championships.
• The 2010 Standard/World/Club Class World Gliding Championships.
• Alternative championships for 2009 (such as continental championships).

If your NAC is interested in bidding for any of these Championships, please contact the FAI office or Eric Mozer at emozer@deltamold.com for a bid form.

The deadline for receipt of the bid form by the IGC bid specialist and for preferred consideration for these contests is the 15th of November, 2006.

Finally, I am working with the FAI Secretary General, Max Bishop, to prepare a response to the Draft Accident Report into the fatal accident at Husbands Bosworth during the 2005 FAI Junior World Gliding Championships. The Draft Report makes sobering reading and I anticipate that the Final Report will be published prior to the 2007 Plenary meeting.

Best Regards and Safe Flying

Bob Henderson
President, IGC
October 30th, 2006

President’s Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2007-1

18th April 2007

NZ to Host the 2007 Sailplane Grand Prix Race Final

Following negotiations between the IGC and various potential hosts, the IGC is pleased to announce that the IGC Sailplane Grand Prix race Final will be held in New Zealand this December.

The event will be covered by all of the pioneering media features that marked the first qualifying event held at Omarama in January 2006.

This is the breakthrough we have been waiting for – the world’s best pilots have competed for a place in the Final through eight qualifying events around the world, and now the final battle, with the pilots racing head-to-head, will be seen globally using the latest innovative TV technologies.

Coverage of the Final, managed by Air Sports Ltd, will be broadcast via the internet and will involve live air to air shots, multiple on board cameras and live 3D graphics from Animation Research – who are currently providing the 2007 America’s Cup graphics from Valencia.

The event will be held at Omarama, recognised as one of the world’s best gliding locations, between the 19th and 24th of December 2007. Two additional days will be staged at Wanaka, on the 27th and 28th of December, as part of a new multisport event. Other FAI sports such as skydiving, hang gliding, paragliding, aerobatics and ballooning are expected to participate in the Wanaka event.

The glider pilots who have qualified for the World Series Gliding Final include an impressive array of World and European Champions. A total of 20 pilots will take part.

Apart from internet coverage, it is planned to feature both the Glider and multisport events on both New Zealand and global television. Confirmation of the event follows confirmation of major financial backing from Air Sports Ltd, the company which staged the initial competition at Omarama last year.

The events at Omarama and Wanaka are planned to be the first of a new global competition circuit designed to meet the needs of the media and sponsors.

The pilots who have qualified are:

Pilot	Representing	Qualifying Grand Prix
Ben Flewett	New Zealand	Omarama, NZ
Giorgio Galetto	Italy	Omarama, NZ
Sebastian Kawa	Poland	Omarama, NZ
Herbert Weiss	Germany	Nitra, Slovakia
Petr Krejcirik	Czech Republic	Nitra, Slovakia
Victor Panafutin	Russia	Drakino, Russia
Tim McAllister	USA	Drakino, Russia
Uli Schwenk	Germany	Hahnweide, Germany
Tassilo Bode	Germany	Hahnweide, Germany
Mario Kiessling	Germany	St. Auban, France
Didier Hauss	France	St. Auban, France
Christophe Ruch	France	St. Auban, France
Peter Harvey	UK	Gransden Lodge, UK
Phil Jones	UK	Gransden Lodge, UK
Steve Jones	UK	Gransden Lodge, UK
Mark Holliday	South Africa	Bloemfontein, Sth Africa
Oscar Goudriaan	South Africa	Bloemfontein, Sth Africa
Bruce Taylor	Australia	Gawler, Australia
Peter Trotter	Australia	Gawler, Australia
Michael Sommer	Germany	Gawler, Australia

---

Bob Henderson
President, IGC
April 18th, 2007

President’s Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2007-2

12th May 2007

2007 FAI Sailplane Grand Prix Race Final

In April we announced that the Final for the first GP series will be held in New Zealand. This news was greeted with very positive responses from the qualified pilots and many Delegates also sent me emails of support for our decision.

Thank you to you all for your support of the Bureau.

This newsletter will, I trust, fill in some of the gaps from the April announcement.

The Final will be at Omarama starting on the 19th of December and with the last competition day planned to be the 24th of December. An additional two days of GP racing will then take place at Wanaka on the 27th and 28th of December as part of a wider multi-sport event.

The Final will be managed by three parties:

• IGC – the Bureau will provide the key contest directors.
• Gliding New Zealand will provide the key support people, the airfield support and facilities necessary for the Grand Prix racing itself.
• Air Sports Ltd will provide the media coverage package as well as the logistical support for the pilots and their aircraft.

The GP is being held in New Zealand because Air Sports Ltd have found an investor who is prepared to back their vision of creating air sports as a media-presentable product. The investor, who is not from within the aviation industry, is in this for the long-haul and is willing to work with ASL to create the right market to enable us to all benefit from significant sponsorship in due course.

How do I see this benefiting the IGC? My dream is that we will derive sufficient funding from the media exposure created through ASL’s products to be able to provide funding from IGC to support our core WGC events. But, we need to be realistic; it is going to take some time to create the demand.

The investment in ASL guarantees the coverage for the Sailplane Grand Prix Final in New Zealand using streaming on the internet and on standard size indoor screens on site of:

• Live air to air shots and multiple on board cameras and
• Live 3D graphics

These are the same products that were demonstrated in January 2006 with the addition of the internet coverage.

The investment in ASL also underwrites the cost of supporting the IGC officials and the pilots and their gliders to attend the Final.

It is not planned to provide any large-scale spectator facilities at Omarama, but to focus instead on providing high quality internet coverage, and hopefully some level of broadcast TV exposure.

The Wanaka event is being prepared and managed by “Flying-NZ” (the Royal New Zealand Aero Club – the NZ NAC) and it will include all of the media capability that ASL have available. Skydiving, hang gliding, paragliding, aerobatics, helicopters and ballooning are expected to participate in the Wanaka event.

I have recently written to all the other Air Sport Commission Presidents to ask for their support for this event.

This will, in a small way, allow us to rehearse the formats for the 2009 World Air Games.

For 2008 and 2009 we are now continuing with our plan, announced at the Plenum meeting in March, of running Qualifying GP race in 2008 with a Final in 2009.

Bob Henderson
President, IGC
May 12th, 2007

President's Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2007-3

Dear Delegates

Two new items have been added to the website - the Membership Report, that was not available for the Plenary meeting, has now been completed and is attached for your review, and the results of the Plenary Meeting survey recently completed by our Secretary.

I share the concerns stated in the Membership Report about the accuracy of figures. If we are to measure what is happening in our sport we need data – this includes information like time in the sport and age so that we can build a true picture of the demographics of our gliding fraternity. We will look to find a better way to obtain these details in future, perhaps via a standard report on the website.

On the other hand, the response to the survey from our last Plenary meeting was fantastic. The results show that, while we are making the Plenary meeting more effective, there is room for improvement.

You will now be aware that the FAI Selection Panel awarded the 2009 World Air Games to Turin, Italy. This event will launch the FAI community down a new and challenging path. The Bureau has decided that the pilots who will compete in the Gliding event (using the Grand Prix race format) will be the World Champions from each of our classes and championships. Brian Spreckley has been appointed as the IGC Liaison Officer for the event with Jean-Marc Badan being the FAI Coordinator.

The Air Sport Commission President’s meeting was held in Lausanne on 2nd June. This meeting is proving to be an excellent opportunity for the Commissions and the FAI Executive Board to liaise and look at how the FAI (as a body) can work towards the development of air sports and how we can support each other.

Next month, July, sees the 4th FAI Women’s WGC being hosted by Romorantin in France and the 5th FAI Junior WGC being hosted by Rieti, Italy. My best wishes to competitors and organisers and all involved in these two Championship events.

Bids for Gliding Championships

We had originally looked at running a series of Qualifying Grand Prix races in 2007, but time has caught up with us. We are therefore now opening up bids for Qualifying Grand Prix races in 2008 and also for a Final in 2008. Please circulate this request to all your Clubs. These bids should have the support of your national body.

Finally, I would like to remind all Delegates that we will be selecting the hosts for the 2011 FAI Junior WGC and the 2011 FAI Women’s WGC at the Plenary meeting in Rome next year. Please advise your NACs of these bids.

If your NAC has any interest in hosting one of these events, please contact the IGC Bid representative, Eric Mozer (emozer@deltamold.com) for the bid form.

The deadline for submission for bids for the Junior and Women’s events is September 15th, 2007.

Best Regards and Safe Flying

Bob Henderson
President, IGC
June 30th, 2007

President's Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2007-4

Dear Delegates

Our mid-year Bureau meeting is being held in Paris at the end of this week. Next week is the Air Sports Commission President’s meeting and the FAI General Conference in Rhodes, Greece.

Unfortunately I am not going to be able to attend these meetings because I have a course I need to complete at Air New Zealand starting on the 8th of October. Great timing I know!

Our 1st Vice-President, Eric Mozer, will therefore be chairing the Bureau meeting and attending the Air Sports Commission President’s meeting and the General Conference on my behalf. I know that Eric will do a great job and I’m sure that he will find the General Conference interesting.

I have sent a copy of my IGC Report to the General Conference to you all in a separate email. Please distribute this Report within your National Body.

Congratulations to the organizers, winners and participants of the Women’s, Juniors, and two European Gliding Championships held this past summer. The winners are listed in my attached report.

The Bureau is reviewing the planned GP Series for 2008 and 2009 and will decide on the timing of qualifying events and the Final at the Bureau meeting this week. We are keen to minimize any potential conflicts between the primary World Gliding Championships, the World Air Games and the GP series, so want to be careful about the timetable that we create for the GP. I appreciate that this is frustrating for many people, but we need to establish the best timing for these events.

An interesting development this last European summer has been the production of a dedicated TV series featuring the "world’s best airborne action" and many official FAI Championships. This project was undertaken by of Mr Jeff Zaltmann, CEO of Flying Aces Ltd, a London-based media company. Television coverage of FAI events was produced at no cost to the Organisers.

The Women’s WGC at Romontin was included in this coverage and footage from this WGC has been shown on Reuters, SNTV, EBU, Transworld Sport and Sports Unlimited series (which includes Fox and Sky Sports).

Finally, the IGC Ranking List will be archived at the end of September and from October this year will be calculated under the new Annex D rules. The rules for inclusion of the GP in the Ranking list are not yet finalised but will be included before the World GP Final.

Best Regards and Safe Flying

Bob Henderson
President, IGC
October 2nd, 2007

President's Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2007-5

Dear Delegates

A very productive Bureau meeting was completed in October. Key outcomes from that meeting are noted in the Minutes on the IGC website.

The FAI General Conference in Rhodes was also successful. Eric Mozer has been elected to the Statutes Working Group and I have had a message from FAI President Portmann acknowledging the contributions Eric made to the GC. The GC agreed to establish a new Technical Commission for Navigation and Airspace and we have nominated Bernald Smith as our Commission representative with Ian Strachan as the alternative. I know that they will serve this new Commission well. The GC also agreed to allow Commissions to have 2-year terms for the Bureau and we will now need to decide, at our next Plenary meeting, if we want to adopt this option.

Thinking about the next Plenary meeting, may I remind you all that Proposals and Reports that require a vote must be with our Secretary, Peter Eriksen, eriksen@cegetel.net, no later than Monday the 17th of December. This is to allow us time to ensure that the proposal is worded clearly, to ensure that the decision being asked for is clear to everyone. Reports not requiring a vote must be with Peter by the 10th of January 2008. Any questions about accommodation in Rome please contact Marina Vigorito at marina_vigorito@yahoo.it.

FAI President Portmann will be attending the 1st FAI World Sailplane GP Final in Omarama this month. He will also be attending the New Zealand Air Games, being held immediately after the GP, to see how blending all airport disciplines into one location can work. It is my hope that we will learn valuable lessons from the NZ Air Games that can be used to help the FAI make the 2009 World Air Games in Turin an outstanding success.

Looking forward to 2008, we have the:

• South American Continental Gliding Championships, Adolfo Gonzalez Chávez, Argentina - 20th January to 1st February
• EGU meeting in Florence, 23rd and 24th of February
• Plenary meeting in Rome, 29th February and 1st March
• World Gliding Championships, Std, Club and World classes in Rieti, Italy – 6th to 21st July, and
• World Gliding Championships, Open, 18M and 15M classes in Leusse, Germany - 2nd to 16th August.

I have an important message from Ross Macintyre and the Sporting Code Committee. This message has also been posted on the IGC website:

World Records using multiseat gliders

The Sporting Code rule 4.2.1 regarding declaration content requires the names of both pilot and crew. Some flight recorders approved for verifying World Records do not have a second field/line for the crew's name. In this situation, the following must be observed:

• For FRs having only one field/line for pilot name, enter the crew name on same line, shortening either or both names as needed to fit. The first name on the line is the pilot in command, the second being crew.
• Use full names on the claim. The rule (4.6.4b) requiring all FRs used to have the same declaration details will be strictly applied.

New claim forms for World Records are now on the website. Forms A, B and C have additional certification to be signed by the pilot confirming that the flight was done within the airworthiness and airspace regulations. All new World Record claims must use these new forms from December 1st 2007.

Finally, the Sailplane GP series:

• We are requesting bids for the next round of the GP-Series leading to the 2nd FAI World Sailplane GP Final in 2009. Bids are to be with Eric Mozer emozer@deltamold.com no later than Monday the 31st of December, 2007.
• We are also now requesting bids for the hosting of the 2nd FAI World Sailplane GP Final in 2009. We would like to table the bids for the hosting of this Final at the Plenary meeting in Rome. Please contact Eric Mozer to lodge a bid. These bids will need to be received no later than Friday the 18th of January, 2008 to be included in the package going out to Delegates.

  Best Regards and Safe Flying

  Bob Henderson
  President, IGC
  3rd December, 2007

President's Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2008-1

24th March 2008

Dear Delegates

As I sit here in 24 degrees C in the autumn in New Zealand it is a bit hard to imagine that it is snowing in the UK! The climate variations are really interesting this year.

The Plenary meeting in Rome, and the associated Bureau meeting, were very productive. My thanks to the Aero Club of Italy and the Italian Gliding Federation for hosting us all in Rome, especially to Senator Leoni, Andrea Tomasi and Marina Vigorito.

Congratulations to Derek Piggott (UK) on the award of the Lilienthal Medal and to Maksymiliana Czmiel-Paszyc (Poland) on the award of the Pelagia Majewski Medal. Both awards recognise a lifetime of service to our sport of gliding.

Peter Platzer (Austria) joins the Bureau after Vladimir Foltin stood down and Goran Ax has taken over the Chairmanship of the Annex A Group from Axel Reich. Vladimir and Axel have devoted many hours to the service of the IGC over the past four years and I am pleased that they will both continue to be closely involved with IGC work in other roles.

The key decisions from the Plenary meeting have been posted on the IGC website and a number of action items will be completed in the next month, including setting up two new working groups to look at “Country Development” and “Continental Records”.

The 2009 Plenary meeting will be held in Lausanne on Friday the 6th and Saturday the 7th of March, 2009. Bureau meetings will be held on the 6th and 7th of October 2008 and the 4th and 5th of March 2009.

The World Air Games 2009 are rapidly approaching. The current World Gliding Champions and European Gliding Champions will be invited to fly the GP race at the World Air Games. Invitations will go out shortly to each of these pilots.

Best regards and safe flying

Bob Henderson
President, IGC
24th March 2008

Archive of Previous Letters

• 11 April 2004.
• 20 May 2004.
• 7 August 2004.
• 17 September 2004.
• 18 November 2004.
• 3 February 2005.

Notes and decisions from the IGC Bureau meeting 2005/2

Paris 10-12 October

Participants:

Bob Henderson, president
Eric Mozer, 1st vice-president
Vladimir Foltin, vice-president
Axel Reich, vice-president (Tuesday)
Brian Spreckley, vice-president
Roland Stuck, vice-president
Peter Eriksen, secretary (Monday)
Tor Johannessen, president of honour (Monday)

Apologies:
Arild Solbakken, vice-president

Working session 1, IGC Management and Structure

1.1 Presidents report on FAI activities including preparation for the 98th FAI Annual Conference, CASI meeting and Regional and World Air Games.

Tor Johannessen was nominated the accredited IGC representative in the Air Sports General Commission (CASI) meeting in Paris 11 October 2005.

The discussion about the classification electrical aircraft agreed that aircraft could compete on Championships and achieve records as long as they complied with the Sporting Code.

It was agreed that it was not appropriate for a technical committee like CIACA to host competition events; these should be under the appropriate sporting commission.

With regard to the issue on world records, it is a problem that has to be addressed by the World Record Review Committee. How do we tackle two or more pilots flying together, or pilots getting support from the ground, etc.

The problem of official observers and conflicts of interest was discussed. FAI already has quite clear rules on this.

It was agreed that Bob would raise this issue with the other Sports Commission Presidents. There is a need to clarify what is acceptable, and what is not, from a sporting point of view.

An issue of records was brought up by Roland: Should it be possible to set two-seater world records with teams of mixed nationality, in which case the Sporting Code General Section has to be changed, as it requires that a record, in order to become a world record, also is a national record. But many countries only accept national records if the entire crew is of that nationality. Bob will raise this with the FAI.

1.2 Confirm Structure of Committees and Specialists

Nothing to report

1.3 Finance, 2005 Status and 2006 Budget

The draft IGC budget reported to FAI was discussed briefly. The need for sanction fees was agreed as being necessary to provide IGC with funds. Brian requested that 50% of the annual ranking list subscriptions, from 2006 onwards, be set aside to fund future administration of the Ranking List.

The Business Development Group (BDG) need to identify long-term IGC funding requirements. Bob to re-establish the BDG with Arild, Brian and Eric as members.

1.4 Discussion on IGC Strategic Improvement Actions

It was agreed that the action paper is the right way forward, but we have to carefully prioritise our actions. Peter will update the actions together with Bob and Eric and then circulate to the bureau. We then have to assign the actions.

1.5 Communication and PR

Bob to advise Reiner Rose and request payment of CHF 1000 rights fee for Jun 04 to May 05 and to instruct Dick to pay CHF 500 to the OLC.

1.6 Discussion about last Plenum meeting to further improve form and structure of the 2006 meeting

Peter to send out reminders to Committees and specialists, prompting them to start working on their reports.

1.7 Plan the 2006 Plenary Meeting, including deadlines, invitations, uploads to web-site etc.

As per deadlines stated by the Secretary at the end of the 2005 Plenary. Sir John Allison, President of Europe Air Sports confirmed as guest speaker.

Working session 2, Championships

2.1 Review of 2005 Championships to identify issues and take actions

Overlap of competitions was a problem in 2005. Overlap exists in 2007; year two proposal for 2006 to require events to have minimum time period between. Overlap creates problems for Team Captains and equipment. Eric to contact organisers to seek changes as required.

Eric to contact organisers of Multiclasses 2008 to avoid overlap of events. The priority is to avoid overlap of competition periods.

Husbands Bosworth accident – management of spectators by organisers is required to minimise risk factors. Eric to advise Chief Stewards of need to reinforce safety.

2.2 Review of coming Championships
WGC 2006
Number of competitors

Bid of 5 per NAC plus 1 reserve, with a maximum of 2 per class, up to 120 total entries. Eric to advise Sweden to use the Country Ranking from the ranking list to determine priority of selection of reserves and that the Bureau expects Sweden to use this up to maximum of 120 entries.

Proposal no 9 (non finishers)

Axel to revise Distance points as Annex A Year Two proposal in 2006

2.3 Review received bids for coming Championships (2009 Women’s, Junior’s, and possible other regional competitions)

Womens, no bids to date for 2009. Eric to follow up to NACs and Delegates with close off date of 15th December

Juniors bid for 2009 from Wiener Neustadt and Finland

Axel to propose that Continental Championships be 10 days in length as Year Two proposal.

2.4 Sailplane Grand Prix (SGP)

• Feedback from 2005 St Auban.
  Roland Stuck presented the report from the competition, which shows that there is a lot of potential in this concept.

• Future Grand Prix including FAI Regional Air Games and World Air Games
  Decisions re dates and close-out and future approvals of the Qualifying Grand Prix (QGP) and the World Grand Prix (WGP)

  QGP closing date 31st December 2005 – one bid per country – max entries of 20

  NACs must endorse bids for QGP and WGP.

  Eric to inform potential bidders; Bob to advertise close-off date through Newsletter.

  Rules for QGP 2006 ready by 1st December 2005

  Roland, Brian and Vladimir to review proposals from St Auban. The revised rules will then be submitted to the Bureau for approval per e-mail (needs to be done before the NZ Qualifying GP).

  Approvals for SGP 2007 by Bureau.

  Approvals for SGP 2009 to be bids by Dec 2007 and Plenum will decide in 2008

  Plenum in 2006 to be asked if they wish to retain authority to approve SGP events. Bob to draft proposal for Plenary

  Approval process for 2007 – circulate bids at beginning of November.

  QGP must be open to international competitors; pilots may fly as many QGP as possible

2.5 New procedures for reimbursement of costs for Jury and Stewards directly by IGC

Discussion on excel spreadsheet modelling of costs and potential pilot sanction fees took place. Bob and Eric to develop Year Two proposal to support funding through pilot fees for Chief Steward and also Jury President for action in 2007.

Bob and Eric to develop Year One proposal to better define powers of Chief Steward and relationship with IGC for implementation in 2008.

Complimentary work required to develop an IGC accredited scoring program for official use by IGC. Axel to develop proposal for accrediting scoring programs.

Working session 3, FAI, OSTIV, Ranking

3.1 OSTIV Related

• FLARM
  The use of FLARM is expanding; protocols allow transmission of vertical and lateral motion speeds between aircraft; Annex A paragraph not to be changed. FLARM can be selected OFF to avoid being seen. No action required.

• Accident Statistics
  EGU collecting statistics to identify relevant issues to EASA authorities. No reason to change regulations for maintenance or medical. Accidents are due to spinning and mid-air collisions. 22,000 registered gliders the 16 EGU member countries.

• Status on CS-22 Study Group
  CS-22 working under jurisdiction of EASA but not functioning continuously and the OSTIV is no longer involved automatically. OSTIV and EASA meeting to seek a solution for OSTIV to become again spokes-group for gliding matters.

  Microlights –motorgliders built according to microlight specifications (MTOM 300Kg for a single seater and 450 kg for a two seater min speed 65 km/h) are becoming more and more popular in some countries. This is because these aircraft are regulated at national level thus benefiting from more relaxed rules than gliders (for example in France microlight pilots need no medical etc). There is a risk that the gliding movement will loose members to the profit of the microlight movement. FFVV to make a proposal to the 2006 Plenum to define microlight motorgliders class the same as for microlight aircraft

  A proposal from the EGU to allow light gliders ( built to the specs of microlights) to be treated the same as microlights has been declined by EASA. This is being disputed. As an alternative, OSTIV may prepare a certification standard for light gliders. Bob to take supporting action as requested by OSTIV.

3.2 Licensing

As per written report. No action required.

3.3 Maintenance and Operations

Part M proposal for gliders to provide continuous maintenance - expensive and bureaucratic option. EGU is heading an EASA working group, which has recommended changes to reduce costs and bureaucracy. EGU still attempting to move gliders away from continuous maintenance to annual inspections.

3.4 EGU matters

Airspace paper developed to argue for protection of airspace. Co-operating with Europe Air Sports to support administration and management. Cost of EGU membership is rising rapidly with too little benefit to EGU.

3.5 FAI Centenary update

Total kilometres updated to 2,657,145. Absence of reports noted on the IGC and FAI websites for gliding weeks and Grand Prix. Diplomas yet to be provided by FAI. This style of competition could be extended to an annual competition. Eric to develop proposal for annual event.

3.6 IGC Ranking List

New features - Any changes to position on the ranking list cause an automatic notification to be sent to those pilots who change positions; this could be extended to notifying all pilots. Not all pilot details and photos are provided; competition organisers need to assist with this feature. Eric to ensure Chief Stewards are aware of this requirement.

Finance – Support from Keith N to continue for another year, waiting for BDG. Suggest 50% of ranking list income be allocated as expenditure for ranking list administration from 2006.

Ranking List is part of the website, these needs to be integrated together. Need to work towards an integrated website with a website manager. We are working towards providing a section on website for organisers to download results to automate the site. Invoicing will become automatic; copies of invoices to go to IGC Treasurer. The rules are being reviewed. Bob to investigate establishing webmaster support.

Working session 4, FAI Sporting Code Section 3D and Records and any other business

4.1 Short debate on the issue of separation of records (thermal/other)

Is there an option to create Continental Records? Bob to follow-up with FAI Office.

4.2 FAI Sporting Code Section 3D
Proposal from Ross.

Double-seater class to be 20-m handicapped, with two crew.

Bureau agreed that all pilots to hold an FAI Sporting Licence, all pilots to be pre-nominated, and that no specific limit should be set on the number of pilots to maximise opportunities. Also the suggested Maximum Take-Off Mass of 750kg was challenged as to whether this be 850kg? The wing-span limit of 20 meters was also challenged. Axel to take Bureau suggestions to the Sporting Code committee for consideration.

4.3 Discussion on Microlight gliders (WP 6)
See above at 3.1.

4.4 Media and TV rights

Bob to coordinate rights issues with the FAI General Secretary.

4.5 Any Other Business

• Simulators
  NZ proposal – there is already an Austrian full-motion commercial simulator in use and also a French product. UK visual simulator is use. Slovenia producing a new simulator software (Condor). Bob to discuss with New Zealand.

• COTS
  Vladimir to review current e-mail round and to coordinate progress with GFAC

• FAI Competition Seminar
  No attendance by IGC. No further info from FAI. IGC to concentrate on training Chief Stewards and, possibly, competition directors. This could be achieved with a training day immediately prior to or during the IGC meeting in March. Sessions to focus on how to manage the relationships at the events. Eric to coordinate Chief Steward training session at Plenary meeting in March 2006.

• Annex A
  IGC Handicapping List reference weights being revised to correct errors. Axel to provide updated list will to the 2006 Plenary meeting.

  Handicapping committee to review the IGC Handicaps to see if an adjustment factor could be used to take in account different weather conditions. Need handicap list for microlight motor-gliders. Axel to action with handicapping committee.

  Transfer of .igc files by email at championships is acceptable. Axel to advise championship organisers.

  Allocation of "minimum distance" on Speed tasks may cause devaluation of the day when the minimum distance on an AAT is less than 250km. Axel to get Annex A committee to review.

  Annex A changes actioned in 2005:

  • 5.3.1b Anti-collision devices modified.
  • Simplified scoring system to be added.
  • Handicap – lowest performance glider has a handicap of 1.0, lesser performance gliders have a handicap of <1.0.
  • Penalty for missing of the turnpoint area to be for less than 500 metres.
  • Explanatory note to be added for Club Class maximum take-off mass.
• WRRR Follow-up

  Bob to follow up with GFAC on WRRR proposals from Plenary meeting

• Open Class Weight
  Championships prior to 2007 must comply with certificate of airworthiness and current Annex A "Bayreuth Rule". Eric/Axel to advise appropriate organisers and Chief Stewards.

Minutes of Bureau Meeting 2006_2

Held in Cambridge, UK
The 10th and 11th September 2006

Participants:
Bob Henderson, President (BH)
Eric Mozer, 1st Vice-president (EM)
Vladimir Foltin, Vice-president (VF)
Axel Reich, Vice-president (AR)
Brian Spreckley, Vice-president (BS)
Roland Stuck, Vice-president (RS)
Peter Eriksen, Secretary (PE)
Keith Nicolson (Agenda item 3.3 only), Ranking list administrator

Apologies:
Goran Ax, Vice president

Working session 1, IGC Management and Structure

1.1 President’s report on activities since the last plenum meeting

The German Aero Club has informed FAI that they will nominate a new delegate. It is unclear if Axel Reich can continue as Vice-president until the next Plenum meeting.
Action: BH to confirm with FAI office.

Air Sports Ltd. (ASL) agreement for the Sailplane Grand Prix is still being negotiated by FAI. We need to set a deadline to assure that we have time to find another partner before the next World Grand Prix, should the ASL negotiations fail.
Action: BH to inform FAI office about deadline 27 February 2007.

BH and RS will visit Rieti during week 37 to discuss the WGC events with the organisers.
Action: BH to provide the Bureau with report from the visit in Rieti.

There had been some confusion about the use of the name “IGC” versus “FAI Gliding”. It was confirmed that “FAI Gliding” was to be used as a logo whereas IGC remains the proper name for the Sporting Commission.

1.2 Review of issues raised during last plenum meeting

All items are included in the action list.

1.3 Review of Action List (WP1)

The action list was updated to 10 Sep 2006. An update will be made right after this meeting and circulated to the Bureau members. Bureau members are asked to report back on actions by 31st October.
Action: BH to e-mail Action List to Bureau
Action: Bureau members to report on actions by 31st October.

1.4 Review of Year-1 proposals requiring action

The following proposals are to be developed:

Action: EM to develop proposal for World Championships outside Europe on a 4-year rotating basis.

Action: AR to develop Year-2 proposals for Junior’s and Women’s entrants in WGC.

It was noted that the donor of the Team Challenge Cup (Gliding New Zealand) wishes that it remains with the Open/18m/15m.

Action: AR to revise Team Cup rules to be for Open/18Meter/15Meter WGC classes.

It was agreed that the FFVV proposals for Soaring Performance together with the removal of the photo procedures can all be joined in a major review of the Sporting code in 2008.

Action: Ross Macintyre to develop SC proposals to be consolidated for effective date of 1st October 08.

1.5 Finance, 2006 Status and 2007 Budget

FAI requires a new format for our financial status and budget. Dick Bradley has transformed the status report into this format.
We need to develop a 5 year budget to create an overview of our situation.
Action: Dick Bradley to create 5 year budget proposal.

1.6 Discussion on IGC Strategic Improvement Actions

The draft Strategic Improvement Actions was discussed. They are grouped into the following subjects:

• Participation in IGC activities
• Communication with members
• Quality of WGCs
• Increase participation from FAI members
• Safety in IGC sanctioned competitions
• Improve IGC financial management.

Following a detailed review of the action items and initiatives, the document will be updated and a presentation prepared for the next IGC plenum for endorsement.
Action: PE to update Strategic Improvement Actions and prepare presentation for Plenum.

1.7 Discussion about last Plenum meeting to further improve form and structure of the 2007 meeting

We will continue to submit reports not requiring voting to delegates before the meeting; they will normally not be presented.

The dinner arrangement Friday evening seems to work fine.
Action: PE to Ask FAI office to reserve for dinner.

The delegates, alternates and invited guests should have name badges (nice big font). Delegates and alternates will therefore be asked to register for the meeting in advance.
Action: PE to arrange name badges with the FAI office.

We will invite Presidents/Chairmen of national gliding organisations to participate in the dinner Friday night. There will be a special session during the meeting Saturday morning, where we will address issues that are important for our sport in general. This will include Strategy, Grand Prix, Safety, Club League, Membership Challenge etc. This session will be prepared with hand-outs to make it easier to follow.

There may be a need for translators for this session.
Action: BH to contact the FAI office and find out if translators can be organised.
Action: PE/BH to develop program for Saturday morning session.
Action: PE to invite the gliding press for the Plenum.

The Bureau meeting will start Wednesday at lunch and last until Thursday evening. We consider finding another place than the usual, e.g. the FAI office or a hotel meeting room.
Action: PE to organise meeting room through the FAI office.

1.8 Plan the 2007 Plenary Meeting, including agenda, deadlines, invitations, uploads to web-site etc.

Action: PE to remind delegates that according to the “Sporting Code Review and change process”, the IGC Bureau shall be notified about intended proposals not later than the 1st of October.

If the proposal is substantial, the Bureau can support the further development and wording of the proposal.
Action: Bureau members shall assure that Year-2 proposals are circulated to the Bureau not later than 31st October.

As agreed at the last Plenum meeting, the following deadlines apply:

• Proposals and reports requiring voting: Friday 15 December 2006.
• Reports not requiring voting: Sunday 7 January 2007.
• All material available for delegates: Tuesday 16 January 2006.

Trophy for the IGC-OLC Club League will be awarded last thing Friday afternoon.

Working session 2, Championship

2.1 Review of actions from 2006 Championships (WGC in Sweden and France) to identify issues and take actions

The Bureau reviewed the reports from Eskilstuna and Vinon. Many of the problems addressed in the reports could be solved by a closer cooperation between the Chief Steward and Organisers. This should be solved by the revision of the role of the Chief Steward.

Several Class-1 events have had to change venue during the last couple of years. It was agreed to apply a more rigorous process for such changes in the future. This will amongst other things include site inspections, analysis of local airspace etc., and will normally be conducted by the Chief Steward.
Action: AR will review reports and propose changes to Annex A as required, see Agenda item 4.2.

2.2 Review of coming Championships

Appointment of Jury and Stewards:

Officials were appointed for 2007 and 2008 events.

Role of Chief Steward (CS):

The CS is to work even more closely than today with the Competition Director. The CSs should be a small group of people, e.g. 4 to 6. These procedures only apply to WGCs.
Dick Bradley, Peter Ryder, Brian Spreckley and Roland Stuck were initially identified as Chief Stewards.

The other steward in a WGC should be a person who potentially is going to be a Chief Steward or competition director in the future.
The Bureau consider changing the name from Chief Steward to IGC Supervisor or something similar to reflect the role.

The CSs will work as a team, meaning that the one assigned to a competition may not be the only one supporting the organisers before the competition.
Action: EM to develop role and procedure for Chief Steward together with DB, RS and BS, having a draft ready 1st November. Brian will contact Dick.
The Bureau will start this new working arrangement with the organisers of 2007 and 2008 WGC events.

It was agreed that we need to assure that WGCs do not overlap, but we would have to accept that continental championships overlap, even sometimes with WGCs.

Lithuania asked to include the 20m 2-seater class in the EGC in 2007, which means that they will be flying in 4 classes. This was accepted, but a limit to maximum 6 entries per NAC is imposed.
Action: EM to inform Lithuania about decision.

2.3 Review received bids for coming Championships if any

No bids received for 2008 QGP or for the Open/18m/15m and Standard/Club Class/World Class 2010 WGC.
Action: EM to call for bids to be made with closing date of 15 November.

2.4 Sailplane Grand Prix

Grand Prix Naming:

There has been a problem with the naming of the Grand Prix, as the brand name is protected by another event. We are therefore not allowed to use the brand FAI Grand Prix.
It was decided to simply drop “FAI” from the name of our Grand Prix.
The name will now be World Sailplane Grand Prix (WSGP), the Qualifying Sailplane Grand Prix (QSGP) will be named e.g. British Sailplane Grand Prix.

Feedback from 2006 QSGPs:

Reports from Omarama, Nitra, Drakino and Hahnweide have been received. Cambridge and St. Auban to come. Last two QSGPs are in Bloemfontein and Gawler.
We need to develop standard format for reporting to make sure we get the right feed-back.
Action: BH to develop SGP Standard Reporting Form.
We should survey the pilots again to get feedback.
Action: BH to initiate pilot survey.
In general the QSGPs have worked well, even though not many QSGPs were organised exactly in our spirit. We need to include media activities without constraining the task setter’s freedom..
Starting procedures have to be reviewed. We have to get this sorted out very quickly. Contest directors will be included in this debate.
Action: RS to manage revisions of SGP procedures with Contest Directors before the QSGP in Bloemfontein.
It was decided that there shall be a minimum length of a grand prix task but not a minimum number of competition days.
IGC Bureau should nominate the competition director in the future.
We now need to establish a group of persons who will run these events, a semi-professional management team, but we can’t really do that until we get the sponsorship sorted out. RS proposed that there should an assistant to the referee, at least for the WSGP, possibly a local person.
RS is appointed as referee for Bloemfontein.
For Australia the referee will be Vladimir Foltin, Terry Cubley or Henk Meertens.

Update on 2007 WSGP:

A Multi-airports event is planned for NZ. It was agreed that we must assure that the focus is on the WSGP event. Internet coverage with live transmission must be provided and repeat coverage must be provided for Europe due to time difference.

A proposal to hold weekend GPs in 2007 was endorsed. A number of alternatives were discussed:

• A short GP on opening days at the WGC and EGC events in 2007.
• GP at Aero 2007 in Friedrichshafen.

Action: BH to plan 2007 events.

It was a major concern that media coverage of the 2007 WSGP must be achieved. The performance target is proof of internet capability and funding. The target is to be met by 27 February, 2007.
Action: BH to liaise with FAI.

It is the intention to hold the next WSGP in 2008 with bids being requested immediately.
Action: BH to seek advice from ASL as to media requirements for the site.

The Bid process is to be revised. If performance target is not met on 27 Feb, 2007 then a new WSGP site for 2008 to be chosen and 2007 event moved.

It is envisaged that the future timing of GPs will be with qualifying GPs between Jan and Aug and WSGP in early Sep each year.

2.5 Implementation of new procedures for reimbursement of costs for Jury and Stewards directly by IGC

These procedures apply to Jury President and Chief Steward at WGC events only.

Charge to be levied against Organisers at close of entries and reconciled at close of registration
Per diem and reasonable travel and accommodation expenses to be paid by IGC.

Action: EM to remind Organisers of process and their liabilities for costs and changes to costs such as sanction fee revisions.

2.6 Presentation of draft Organiser’s Handbook

A draft was circulated during the meeting.

The Competition Handbook is under preparation based on a Norwegian handbook. The first part of Competition Handbook will form the Bid Document.

The Organiser’s Guide that was developed during the WGC in Sweden and reviewed by a group in during the WGC in Vinon is to be included in the Competition Handbook to form a comprehensive document.

These documents will, when approved by the Bureau, be made available at the IGC web.

Action: BS to send UK handbook to PE.
Action: PE to continue working on the Competition Handbook, and present new draft early 2007.

2.7 Management of FAI/IGC trophies

We have to improve the way we manage the IGC Trophies. It was decided that a list of trophies shall be established and made published on the web together with procedures for the management of these. Tor Johannessen has already started this work.

It is unclear if the trophies are insured.

Action: BH to clarify the insurance issue with the FAI office.
Action: PE to complete the list if trophies in cooperation with Tor, and develop procedures for the Trophy Management, to include the procedures in the Competition Handbook and publish it on the web.

A2.8 Discussion on Class structure in the “light-end”

RS explained the problem we have at the light end, where a fairly limited number of aircraft are divided into 3 categories.

It was decided to work towards a solution where the existing World Class was extended to include the other gliders after 2009. This could e.g. be with a max take off weight of 300 kg, including motor gliders, and possibly with max. 13 meter wingspan. The PW-5 should be allowed under grandfather rules.
Action: RS and AR to develop year-2 proposal for extension of the World Class after 2009.
Action: BH to check the FAI rules about changing a class definition.

It was not considered worth creating a competition class for the “less than 80 kg” class.

Working session 3, FAI, OSTIV, Ranking

3.1 Issues from OSTIV requiring IGC action

There were no actions from the OSTIV meeting in Eskilstuna to IGC.

3.2 EGU matters including EASA developments on Licensing Maintenance and Operations

RS provided an update on EGU and progress on MDM032. (MDM032 is the working group that deals with light aviation licensing, certification, operations and maintenance).

It is expected that the proposed changes will provide fewer restrictions to GA and gliding with respect to airworthiness and licences, but the rules are not yet completed.

Final proposal is expected in 2008.

3.3 IGC Ranking List

Status on review of Ranking List rules

It was decided that the Competition Rating will be based on the participating pilot’s status at the day the competition starts.

All Cat 2 competitions prior to 2003 have been removed from the ranking list. All NACs have had the possibility to enter their competitions from 2003.

It was confirmed that a Class 2+ competition requires pilots from at least 3 NACs, including the organising NAC.

It was decided that new competitions could be entered for free the first year, in order to attract more competitions.

It was discussed whether the Grand Prix competitions should be included. The Ranking List Group to find a way this could be done. Decision will be taken once this has been developed and tested.

Organisers shall provide format and pilot information directly to the ranking system using key-codes.

Organisers are requested to use Ranking List numbers to identify pilots and to assure pilots are registered before competition takes place.

Pilots and Organisers will receive automated response of results being added and allow only 30-days for the notification of errors.

SeeYou to be asked to provide automated resulting to the Ranking List.

Charging for events by numbers of pilots to be coordinated with the FAI Office

Action: BS to manage execution of the decisions taken above.

Proposed structure for SC Annex D

The draft version of Sporting Code Annex D, Rules for the Official IGC Ranking List, was tabled. A number of comments were received.

Like other Annexes, editorial changes will have immediate effect; other changes will come to effect the 1st October following the IGC endorsement. The system of year-1 and year-2 proposals will be used.
Action: BS and PE to update draft Annex D according to the comments received.

BH thanked Keith Nicolson for the work he has done setting up and maintaining the Ranking List System.

3.4 FAI General Conference matters

Voting for Executive Board was discussed.

3.5 Update on OSTIV action to increase MTOW to 850 kg in EASA CS 22

OSTIVAS has been amended. The action on IGC closed.

3.6 Proposal to have an IGC medal as an award that could be decided by the Bureau possibly on recommendation of Delegates to recognise service to IGC and International Gliding.

No decision taken.

Action:

BH to check on Tor’s work and look into the question of Multi-Diplomas before this is carried forward.

3.7 IGC airspace mailing list

Action: PE to inform the FAI office that the list is no longer needed.

Working session 4, FAI Sporting Code Section 3D and Records and any other business

4.1 Short debate on the issue of separation of records (thermal/other)

During the OSTIV Congress in Eskilstuna the Meteorological Panel discussed this subject carefully.

The result was that there is no clear distinction between flights only using thermal convection and other flights. No definitive criteria to identify “thermal-only” could be found.

It was suggested by the OSTIV Committee that, if the intention of IGC is to differentiate the records in more comparable conditions the definition of “regions” would be recommended. This would guarantee the same climatology and topography for the specified area.

This was discussed by the Bureau, but as it can be compared to the definition of Continental records, which the Plenum declined in 2006, it was decided not to propose records defined per region.

It was decided to close this action item.

4.2 FAI Sporting Code Section 3D Annex A

Action: AR to:

• check the definition of 20 Meter 2-seater definition of pilots, and possibly make an editorial change;
• consider redefinition of a “non-flying rest day”;
• make editorial changes as needed as a result of changes to the appointment and financial support for Jury President and Chief Steward;
• delete explanatory note from 7.4.6 New Starts;
• move requirement for carriage of tracking units from explanatory note to rule and cross-check with Grand Prix Rules;
• change Anti-Collision Devices to Proximity Warning Devices;
• review and refine as necessary Handicap Rules at the end of each European summer;
• redefine wingspan penalty to include 18M and 20M;
• remove appendix referring to bid.

4.3 IGC web, status and organisation of work

We need to take a quantum leap with regard to our PR activities. Although we have a nice web site, it is not dynamic enough. We will have to establish procedures that assure that the web master gets all the information.
Action: BH to provide Peter Ryder with list of activities that will allow him to be more proactive.
We need to get reliability on our web site, but it is also a question of a more general marketing of our sport.
Action: BH to take contact to persons who could undertake the task to push IGC information to the outside world.

The Bureau will look at possible ways to improve the web.
Action: BH to contact Peter Ryder to establish link “competitions and results” to the Ranking List and tidy up the website.

4.4 Any Other Business

4.4.1 The use of Proximity Warning Devices in IGC sanctioned competitions was discussed. IGC cannot require the carriage of non-certificated devices in sanctioned competition.

4.4.2 It seems to be unclear if all sanction fees are paid to the FAI office.
Action: BH and Dick Bradley to review process and reporting with the FAI office.

4.4.3 The Bureau composition and succession was discussed.
Action: BH to contact potential candidates.

Peter Eriksen
IGC-secretary

Minutes of Bureau Meeting 2007_2

Held in Paris (FFVV offices) 5th October 09:15 to 6th October

Minutes version 1.0

Participants:
Eric Mozer, 1st Vice president (EM)
Goran Ax, Vice president (GA)
Vladimir Foltin, Vice president (VF)
Visa-Matti Leinikki, Vice president (VL)
Brian Spreckley, Vice president (BS)
Roland Stuck, Vice president (RS)
Peter Eriksen, Secretary (PE)

Apologies:
Bob Henderson, President (BH)

1. FAI matters

1.1 The ATMOS project

We have had no news since the Plenum, ATMOS is on the agenda for the FAI General Conference.

1.2 CASI (Air Sports Commissions)

Tor Johannessen will participate in the CASI meting like last year. The travel cost will be reimbursed by IGC.

1.3 FAI General Conference Votes

Nothing to report.

2. Competitions

2.1 Reports, feed-back and actions from 2007 championships

2.1.1 Steward Report – Womens’ WGC – Romorantin, France

The report was noted.

It was noted that the Annex A, para 5.4 f clearly states that the secondary Flight Recorder (FR) only shall be used if the primary recorder has a technical failure.

BS informed the Bureau that the UK will raise a proposal to the Plenum to change this, so that the pilot always can bring his second registered FR, should the first FR not support the pilots claim.

2.1.2 Steward Report – Junior WGC – Rieti, Italy

Annex A – Altitude Penalty Clarification

It was once again stressed that it is recommended to use a Sporting Limit for maximum altitude some (e.g. 50) meters below prohibited airspace if possible. This is to avoid the scenario wherepilots that climb slightly above the limit are scored as outlanded. We need to clarify the explanation in the text.
(Action GA)

Annex A – Flight Outside Contest Boundary

Editorial change to Annex A to clarify the meaning of contest area is needed. The contest area should be part of the airspace field provided before the competition.

It must also be made clear what the consequences of flying outside the contest areas are (penalty or not).
(Action GA)

Annex A – Manual Timing at Finish

The Bureau will delete the mandatory manual timing of finishes Annex A 7.7.3. Organisers are still welcome to do it, (e.g. to provide preliminary results).
(Action GA)

Annex A – Method for Calculating Team Scores

A note is needed in Annex A to make it clear that for Continental Championships there must be a complete scoring only including the continental pilots.
(Action GA)

Safety – Outlanding fields for future competitions

It will be made compulsory to have a briefing about outlanding possibilities before the first official training day.

It is recommended to provide information about outlanding fields if possible. This is particular important in areas where outlandings are difficult.

It should be noted that the competition organisers in no case can be made responsible for the actual conditions on the outlanding fields.
(Action GA)

2.1.3 Steward Report – EGC – Issoudun, Fance

IGC should provide forms needed for competition organisers, including scrutinising, to avoid all organisers having to develop their own.
(Action RS)

Annex A – Standard Terminology for Airspace Types

Note to Annex A. Organisers shall use the word prohibited for airspace that is not available for the competitors. Words like closed or open can lead to misunderstandings.

Maps shall be provided that clearly indicate prohibited airspace.
(Action GA)

Annex A - Scoring Software Problem

We too often have scoring problems during IGC sanctioned competitions. The scoring software group will be tasked to look at that, and propose solutions.
(Action GA)

Annex A – Gliders with non-standard Comp. Numbers

It will be emphasised at the next IGC meeting that Competition Numbers, for safety reasons, must respect the rules in the Sporting Code. Gliders not having correct competition numbers shall be rejected by the scrutinisers.
(Action GA)

2.2 Future championships

The Bureau noted that the following applications for future championships had been received :

• 2009 EGC Bid – Pociunai, Lithuania
• 2009 EGC Bid – Nitra, Slovakia (oral intention at meeting: application received following meeting)
• 2011 Women’s WGC – Rieti, Italy
• 2011 Junior WGC – Musbach, Germany

2.3 2009 World Air Games

Turin is right now setting up the administrative structure. The work on the sporting event has not yet started but BS is in contact with FAI to discuss the gliding aspects. A meeting is planned for later this year.

It is expected that a 2 year cycle will be made for the WAG, initial bids for 2011 will have to be submitted early 2008.

2.4 Sailplane Grand Prix

2.4.1 World Grand Prix preparation, including confirmation of rules, procedures, information to pilots etc.

Planning progresses as planned, a couple of pilots have dropped out, but that was expected. Gliders have been shipped in containers. We are waiting for the publicity campaign to start.

2.4.2 Decision on 1-year or 2-year rounds and timing of Finals

The Bureau proposes to stay with a 2 year cycle, next round starting with Qualifying GPs from January 2008 to May 2009 (WAG will be in June), with the final in the last half of 2009.

The invitation to bid will go out now.

It was agreed at the 2007 Plenum that:

• There will be a maximum of 9 QGPs
• 1st and 2nd pilots are qualified for the final
• Additional pilots will be selected according to the ranking list
• The Champion automatically qualifies
• Host of Final is permitted one pilot in Final
• Maximum of 20 pilots in final
  For the final, we will send out a separate invitation to bid later.

2.4.3 Bids for future QGP

The Nordic Bid is confirmed and remains valid.

The Italian Bid needs to be reconfirmed seen in light of the other activities planned at Rieti the next two years.

The bid from Chile remains valid.

2.5 Continental Championship in South America

The preparations are ongoing. There will be some adaptation of Annex A to fit the local environment, such as the classes and the handicap rules. Peter Ryder is appointed as expert to support the organisers.

2.6 Action after HusBos accident

We need to continue to reinforce the recommended procedures. When looking at this year’s competitions, we still have some problems. The Stewards need to be made aware of the responsibility to guide competition directors on this issue. (Action EM)

2.7 Role of Chief Steward to be updated

It was agreed to update the list of Jurors and Stewards.

The distribution of work between Stewards and Jurors is not sattisfactory, we need to move tasks from the stewards to the Jury.

We need to verify that changes presented at the last IGC meeting are implemented.
(Action BS, EM)

2.8 Update Draft of Organiser Handbook and Competition Handbook

PE will send the draft to the Bureau. It was proposed to have this completed with professional support. No decision taken. (Action PE)

2.9 Management process and insurance for IGC trophies required

PE will ask Tor about the list of IGC Trophies and ask if he together with Peter Ryder could make a list of IGC trophies, and maybe add some of their history for the web.
(Action PE)

We also need a process to approve and accept new IGC Trophies.

It was proposed to have a Paul MacCready medal.

2.10 Establish committee to test scoring software

It was agreed to establish the committee with the following members: Visa-Matti Leinike (Chaiman), Rick Sheppe, Angel Casado, Hans Trautenberg, Peter Ryder, Peter Platzer, Tim Shirley.

The first task of the committee is to define its working area and report back to the Bureau and the Plenum in February 2008.

2.11 Stewards and Jury members for 2009 and 2010 competitions

Chief Steward and Jury President will be appointed before the end of the year for approval at the plenum.
(Action EM)

With the number of competitions we have, we need to find more people for the list of stewards and jurors.

The bureau members are tasked to try to find new members for the list of stewards and jurors. These new persons need to be coached during the first competitions by experienced chief stewards and jury presidents.

3. Sporting Code

3.1 General rewrite of Sporting Code Section 3, General Part

Nothing to report

3.2 Changes to Annex A

In addition to the changes discussed during the review of reports from this year’s competition, two changes were discussed and will be brought forward by the Annex-A group:
The event marker is not needed anymore, and can go out.

Handicap list need to be reviewed, it is still unclear how we will do this.
(Action GA)

3.3 Notification of proposal from NACs

Proposals were received from the German Aero Club. GA will respond to Germany.
(Action GA)

Proposals were received from USA. These proposals were noted by the Bureau.

Ross Macintyre proposed to GFAC to change the future Flight Recorder requirements, to allow for 2 pilot names. Until this can be initiated, a procedure will be added to the Sporting code to add to names separated with one space.

4. Ranking List

4.1 Inclusion of Sailplane Grand Prix in Sporting Code Annex D

A proposal for how to include SGP had been developed and will be circulated to the Annex D group by BS.
(Action BS)

4.2 Publication of Annex D

When the SGP rules have been added to the version endorsed by the Plenum, the document will be sent to FAI for formatting and it will be published on the web.

We also need to add the Ranking List to the Sporting Code General Section, with a reference to Annex D.
(Action BS)

4.3 Develop protocols for pilot-based sanction fee for the Ranking List

No progress on this issue.

4.4 Investigate establishing webmaster support for joint IGC and Ranking List.

BS will take contact to the FAI office to how we can hire support to maintain the ranking list.
(Action BS)

It was noted that a number of major gliding nations not yet had entered the results of their national championships.

5. IGC strategy

5.1 Working Group for the "Light-end"

The group has been established with Vladimir Foltin (chairman), Francois Pin, Tor Johannesen and Roland Stuck as members.

The first aim is to define a class which is below the present Club Class, and which includes the PW5. The name World Class may be maintained if it is possible. One of the proposed definitions was to have a mass limit and a span limit e.g. 13.5 m.

The Bureau supported the idea that the group should focus on the new light gliders in order to capture them.

A report will be provided to the Plenum. This report will not contain a firm proposal for a new class structure.

It was agreed to organise an IGC test competition for 2 classes, the expanded world class (13.5 span) and the ULM class (EASA specifications) in order to see if there is enough interest and if the classes are homogeneous. RS will find out if France is ready host such a competition.
(Action RS)

5.2 Finance

Bob and EM are working on a proposal for guidelines for reimbursement based on the principle that Bureau members are reimbursed for travel expenses and accommodation if not reimbursed by their national organisation.
(Action BH & EM)

6. Plenum 2008 organisation

6.1 Proposals from the Bureau

The Bureau will raise a proposal to make position awareness devices mandatory in IGC sanctioned competitions from 2010.
(Action EM?)

6.2 Bureau meeting, venue, issues, guests

Guest speakers are under consideration.

The Bureau will have a meeting room at hotel Carpegna (confirmed by Marina).

6.3 Elections

Nothing to report.

6.4 Deadlines

Proposals and reports requiring voting: 17th December 2007.

Reports not requiring voting: 10th January.

Material available for delegates: 24th January.

6.5 Accommodation

The Bureau members will stay in the same hotel (Hotel Carpegna)

IGC President's Report to the FAI General Conference 2007

The International Gliding Commission held its annual meeting in Lausanne at the end of February 2007. Key points from this meeting were:

• A presentation from our colleagues at the Santiago Gliding Club in Chile. For those of you who had the privilege to visit this club at the General Conference last year you will appreciate the lessons that we could all learn from their initiatives and enthusiasm in protecting and developing the club and airfield.
• We spent some time discussing the future strategies for our sport and looking at how we, as the governing sports body, can assist at club level to improve the image of gliding and the attractiveness of the sport.
• We discussed, at length, the FAI ATMOS project after a presentation by Mr. Alvaro de Orleans Borbon.
• We surveyed our Delegates about the value of the Plenary meeting and the summarised results were:
  • We discuss the right subjects and spend the right amount of time on technical matters.
  • We try to fit too much into the available time, but the overall length of the meeting (2 days) is reasonable.
  • One meeting a year is sufficient.
  • The Olympic Museum is an excellent venue but Lausanne, as a location, has limited support.
  • Our meeting structure and our communication with our Delegates is good.
• The Plenum was pleased to confer the following awards:
  • The Lilienthal Medal to Mr Alan Patching, Australia.
  • Pirat Gehriger Diplomas to Professor Loek Boermans, The Netherlands, and, jointly, to Mr Brian Spreckley and Mr Keith Nicholson of the UK.
  • The Pelagia Majewski Medal to Mrs Ghislaine Facon, France.
• Significant decisions taken by the IGC Plenum included:
  • A resolution to endorse the work of the OSTIV in sailplane safety.
  • A major overhaul of the Sporting Code section 3 for 2008.
  • A resolution to hold World Gliding Championships outside of Europe on a regular basis.
  • Abandoning restrictions on the number of records that can be claimed on a single flight.
  • The adoption of a new Sporting Code Annex D to formally manage the IGC ranking list.
  • The formation of a committee to study the emerging range of light-weight and lower performance gliders and how they will fit into our championship structure and world records.

2007 World Gliding Championships

The 4th FAI Women’s World Gliding Championships, 2007, were held at Romorantin, France. The World Champions are:

• 15M Class Kathrin Senne GER,
• Standard Class Sarah Kelman GBR,
• Club Class Gill Spreckley GBR.

The 5th FAI Junior World Gliding Championships, 2007, were held at Rieti, Italy. The World Champions are:

• Standard Class Patrick Gai GER,
• Club Class Killian Walbrou FRA,
• Team 1st Germany.

The 14th FAI European Gliding Championships, 2007, were held at Issoudun, France for the Open, 18M and 15M Classes. The Champions were:

• Open Class Peter Harvey GBR,
• 15M Class Janusz Centka POL,
• 18M Class Ronald Termaat NED.

The 14th FAI European Gliding Championships, 2007, were held at Pociunai, Lithuania for Standard, Club, World and 20M multi-seat Classes. The Champions were:

• Standard Class Frederic Hoyeau FRA,
• Club Class Sebastian Kawa POL,
• World Class Krzysztof Herczynski POL,
• 20M Multi-seat Class Yytautas Rasimavicius and Gintautas Butnoris LIT.

IGC-OLC World League Results

The IGC-OLC World league for 2007 has recorded entries from 374 Clubs and gliding organisations and hundreds of pilots flying in 19 rounds of competition.

The top 10 Clubs were:

1. Warner Springs Gliding (USA),
2. Albuquerque Soaring (USA),
3. Black Forest Soaring (USA),
4. Tucson Soaring Club (USA),
5. Soaring Society of Boulder (USA),
6. Porin Ilmailukerho (Finland),
7. FLG Blaubeuren (Germany),
8. SFZ Königsdorf (Germany),
9. LSV Schwarzwald (Germany),
10. Hole in the Wall (USA).

The IGC-OLC World League has created a tremendous on-line competition opportunity for both individual pilots and for their clubs.

The IGC congratulates the winners of the Championships and the IGC-OLC World League.

IGC Grand Prix Race

This event is now branded as the “FAI World GP Glider Championship”. A total of eight events using the Grand Prix race format were held in 2006. Participants from 11 nations competed in this series and all 11 nations are represented in the Final. Six of the finalists are from Germany, three from South Africa and two each from France and the UK.

A total of 143 pilots competed in these eight events with many flying more than once to achieve qualification for the Final. Some 700 Grand Prix races were achieved with no incidents or accidents. The qualifying finalists include four World Champions, three past World Champions and three past European Champions. The Final will be held in Omarama, N