List of attendants 1. Minutes of Last European Meeting 2. Reports of Past European Gliding Championships 2.1 3rd European Junior Gliding Championships 1995 2.2 9th International Women's Gliding Championships 1995 3. Planning of Future European Championships 3.1 8th European Gliding Championships 1996 3.2 9th European Club Class Championships 1996 3.3 4th European Junior Gliding Championships 1997 3.4 9th European Gliding Championships 1998 3.5 10th European International Women's Championships 1997 3.6 International European Motor Gliding Championships 4. Cooperation with EGU 5. Matters not Specific to Europe 5.1 FAI Matters 5.2 World Class Glider 5.3 World Air Games 5.4 Proposal for New Scoring System 5.5 Tasks with Non-Declared Turnpoints 5.6 GPS/GNSS 6. Any Other Business 6.1 Air Sports Youth of German Aero Club 6.2 Barron Hilton Cup 6.3 European Gliding News 6.4 Ultra Light Gliders 6.5 Record Flights during Night Hours 6.6 Approved Electronic Barographs 6.7 Youth Participation 6.8 "Lavender Glide" Competition 1996 in France 7. Date and Place of Next Meeting List of Annexes
AUSTRIA Dr Otwin MESZAROS Delegate
Dr Herbert PIRKER Alternate
Mrs Janet JANOWITSCH Observer
BELGIUM Mr Patrick STOUFFS Delegate
Mr Michel AERTS Alternate
CZECH REPUBLIC Mr Jaroslav VACH Delegate
DENMARK Mr Jens BØRSTING Alternate
FINLAND Mr Tapio SAVOLAINEN Delegate and VP
Mr Raimo MAKKONEN President NAeC
Mr Hannu HALLONEN Observer
FRANCE Mr Bruno LIÈGE Delegate and VP
Mr Jacky CLAIRBAUX Alternate
Mr Thierry MONTIGNEAUX FAI Executive Officer
GERMANY Prof Peter RYDER President IGC
Mr Bruno GANTENBRINK Delegate
Mr Helmut KIFFMEYER Chairman SC Club Class
Mr Fred WEINHOLTZ Secretary IGC
Mrs Gabi ENGEL Observer
HUNGARY Mr György SZENTGYÖRGYI Delegate
Dr. Dezsö HEGEDÜS Alternate
ITALY Mr Smilian CIBIC Delegate
Prof Piero MORELLI Chairman SC MG; WC; OSTIV
MONACO Mr Alvaro de ORLEANS BORBON Delegate and VP
NETHERLANDS Mr Niels VISSER Delegate
NORWAY Mr Tor JOHANNESSEN Delegate and 1st VP
POLAND Dr. Waldemar RATAJCZAK Delegate
RUSSIA Mr Yuri KUZNETSOV Delegate
SLOVAK REPUBLIC Mr Tadeus WALA Delegate
SLOVENIA Mr Miran FERLAN Delegate
SPAIN Mr Antonio MARTINEZ-MONEO Alternate
SWEDEN Mr Åke PETTERSSON Delegate and VP
Mr Alf INGESSON-THOOR Observer
SWITZERLAND Dr. Hans NIETLISPACH Delegate
Mr Max BACHMANN Alternate
TURKEY Mr Hakan BAKIR Alternate
UNITED KINGDOM Dr Tom ZEALLEY Delegate
Mr Ian STRACHAN Observer
USA Mr Hannes LINKE Observer
A Bureau meeting was held on Friday, 29th September, from 14.00 to 19.00 hrs. Appologies for absence were received from the President of Honour, William S. Ivans, USA, and from Vice President Bernald Smith, USA. All other Bureau members were present. Temporarily Professor Piero Morelli, Italy, Chairman of the World Class Subcommittee, and Mr Thierry Montigneaux, Executive Officer of FAI, attended the meeting.
On 30th September, 09.09 hrs, the President of the International Gliding Commission (IGC), Professor Peter Ryder, opened the 5th European meeting of this body in Helsinki. He greeted Mr Raimo Makkonen, President of the Finnish Aero Club and Vice President of the FAI, and thanked the Finnish Delegate, Mr. Tapio Savolainen, for the organization of the meeting. He welcomed 38 delegates and observers from 21 European nations (see attendance list above). Apology for absence had been received from Mr Carlo Lecuit, delegate of Luxembourg.
The Polish delegate, Dr. Waldemar Ratajczak, presented a report on this event (see Annex A). He asked for one minute of silence in memory of the young Danish pilot Lars Hansen who lost his life by a field landing accident after a training flight.
The delegates from Finland and Sweden criticized some details of the championships following the complaints which were made by participants at the recent Nordic Gliding Meeting. However, they stressed their intention not to condemn the Polish organizers but to help similar mistakes to be avoided in future events. They mentioned the carnets, required by the Polish customs officers, the increase of some prices during the championships, lack of discipline of the Polish "sniffers" who flew dangerously within the gaggles, and unsufficient waether forecast with corresponding poor task setting.
Waldemar Ratjczak explained the reasons for some of the slip-ups that had happened, for instance the lack of first class gliding meteorologists in Poland. Smilian Cibic, President of the International Jury and Fred Weinholtz, Steward in Leszno, stressed the praiseworthy efforts the Poles had undertaken rather successfully to make the championships a generally accepted event, although the entry fee of 400 Deutsche marks per glider was very low. They emphasized their impression that most of the young pilots enjoyed their stay and the flying in Poland, although it was obvious that the political reorientation in this country brought quite a lot of problems for the Polish Gliding Association - especially in the field of personnel -, which could not be solved immediately. Regarding the meteorological service a team captains' meeting in Leszno had proposed sending in future meteorologists of a good reputation (like stewards) to championships in countries, where such persons are not available. This question will be discussed at the meeting in Paris, March 1996.
The winners of the championships after nine competition days were:
Club Class, 24 competitors from 11 European nations:
1. Frank Hahn, Germany ASW 15 7021 points
2. Florian Kirchberger Germany Std. Libelle 6909 points
3. Tim Böttcher, Germany DG 100 6857 points
4. Joanna Biedermann Poland Std. Jantar 3 6449 points
Standard Class, 34 competitors from 13 European nations:
1. Guido Achleitner Austria ASW 24 6811 points
2. Falko Küster Germany Discus 6810 points
3. Tassilo Bode Germany ASW 24 6775 points
4. Jon Meis Germany Discus 6702 points
In the course of the discussion on the 3rd European Junior Gliding Cham-pionships 1995 in Leszno, the Russian delegate Yuri Kuznetsov reproached the Polish customs to charge exorbitantly expensive duties for crossing the borders with gliders on trailers. The Polish delegate promised to deal with this problem.
The German delegate Bruno Gantenbrink reported on these championships which were held in three classes from 30th July to 13th August.
Club Class, 13 competitors from 8 European nations
1. Anna Michalak Poland Jantar Std.3 5671 points
2. Rieke Hastert Germany LS 1-d 5643 points
3. Halina Rynkiewicz Poland Jantar Std.3 5618 points
4. Dora Remetei Hungary Jantar Std.2 5417 points
Standard Class, 18 competitors from 9 European nations
1. Bozena Demczenko Poland SZD-55 7339 points
2. Gundula Goeke Germany LS 7 7280 points
3. Marie Kyzivatova Czech Rep. Discus CS 7173 points
4. Alena Netusilova Czech Rep. Discus CS 7159 points
15 m-Class, 10 competitors from 6 European nations
1. Maren Thomas Germany LS 6c 7498 points
2. Gisela Weinreich Germany LS 6 7282 points
3. Angelika Machinek Germany LS 6a 7139 points
4. Claire Luyat France LS 6c 7074 points
The weather was good in the first and poor in the second week, there were 10 contest days in the club class and 9 contest days in the other two classes. Some problems with the scoring in the beginning - the software was faulty - were resolved after a few days. All pilots flew with GPS flight recorders, provided free of charge by the company Peschges, which worked absolutely perfectly. There was only one breakdown, caused by a flat battery. The fact that the "official" coordinates of some of turn points were not correct was no fault of the system (see also Annex C).
The Russian delegate, Yuri Kuznetsov, criticized the club class scoring formula used in these championships. Although he had described its faultiness already in the Euro meeting 1994 of IGC (see minutes of this meeting, item 2.2), it still applies the handicapfactor twice, to the distance and to the speed. A discussion of this matter was postponed to item 3.2.
Professor Piero Morelli, who acted as President of the International Jury at these championships, expressed his regret that the event was not as well organized as he had expected from the German Aero Club. The facts that the GPS experts stayed on the airfield too short a time, so that the organizers were not trained enough in evaluating the flights, that the computer software for scoring was faulty (day factor wrongly programmed), that some turn point coordinates were not correct and that in the first week of the contest the final results were published far too late, impared the quality of the contest. Nevertheless, particularly owing to the great efforts of the task setter Walter Eisele the atmosphere among the competitors was good and friendly.
Vice President Alvaro de Orleans Borbon suggested that all the faults mentioned should be written down and put at the disposal of the next organizers to avoid repitition.
The preparations for these championships are running well. Bulletin No 2 was mailed to all NACs on September 13. There are good reasons to believe that there will be a record n umber of pilots and nations competing.
The organization of the EGC 96 was tested by running the Nationals 1995 along with the Pre-Europeans. There were 62 competitors, 41 in standard and 21 in 15-m class, 15 of them were from abroad. The weather - of course - departed from the standard: High pressure over Russia made forecasting difficult. Eight tasks from 182 to 439 km were flown. The best day of the period was a rest day, which was fixed because of the graduation day in Finnish schools. There will be no such day during the Europeans.
The best speed of 122 km/h was flown by the Finnish Champion Martti Koivula in 15-m class; Leonardo Brigliadori from Italy reached 116 km/h in standard class. The winners were Herbert Wei{\ss}, Germany, in standard and Frederick Hoyeau, France, in 15-m class. The results prove that at Räyskälä it is possible to fly well even for pilots who are not thoroughly familiar with the local conditions.
Although the arrangements were more primitive this year as they will be in the real event, the atmosphere was positive. There was no meteorologist on the field, but in June 1996 Tapio Tourula, a professional metman and top national competition pilot, will work for the contest. As a world premier there was an automatic weather and information center in Räyskälä during the pre-Europeans, constructed by the Finnish company Vaisala. By radio or phone it gives all weather information in real time. Additionally it was used as an important information source between organizers and competitors. Vaisala was satisfied with the trial, the cooperation will continue.
Although the entry fee was only 1000 Finmark and the towing fee 90 Finmark a small profit was made. The target was reached by keeping all costs down. No money was spent on computers, printers, faxes, copy machines, etc.. The organizers are aware that all costs will have risen by next year, but they will continue the effective "stingy" way. For this reason they will be able to pay the IGC sanction fee without raising the entry fees, which is fixed at 3400 Finmark per glider. An aero tow to 600m GND will cost 135 Finmark.
The Finnish proposal for the international Jury - President Alf Ingesson-Thoor, Sweden, members Hannes Linke, U.S.A., and Jaakko Kaskia, Finland - was accepted unanimously. The stewards will be Jacky Clairbaux, France, and Holger Back, Germany.
The pre-contest last summer suffered from bad weather conditions. However, the preparations for the event are running well, Bulletin number 2 and the rules will be published soon. All costs remain unchanged as announced in the bid.
The organizers' proposal for the International Jury - President Smilian Cibic, Italy, members Helmut Kiffmeyer, Germany, and one deserved Slovenian glider pilot who still must be nominated - was accepted unanimously. Tadeus Wala, Slovak Republic, will serve as steward.
It was decided unanimously that a new formula, based on the usual FAI formula published in Annex A to the Sporting Code, Section 3, will be used after incorporating the indexes of the German Aero Club Index-List. This formula must be approved by the Bureau before December 1, 1995.
The preparations are well in hand. The airfield is suited to host 60 competitors in the two classes standard and club. The flight evaluation will be by GNSS. There are no changes as against the original bid.
The proposed period for the championships is July 1998. The planned costs are as follows: Entry fee = 850 Deutsche Marks, aero tow = 30 US$ - to be increased by inflation index 1995 to 1998. The momentary costs for full board range from 18 to 30 US$ per person and day, camping is 10 US$ including electricity and hot showers.
In June 1995 Professor Morelli had visited the German Nationals at Paderborn where - notwithstanding bad weather - clear indications came out on the problem of integration. 21 of 31 gliders in the 18 m class were with engine, 1994 in Bartholomä they were 16 over 39. The tendency to motorized sailplanes is obviously strengthened. All new designs were represented (3 ASH 26E, 2 DG 800 A+B, 1 DG 800 S, 1 LS 9, 1 Ventus 2).
It can be stated now that gliders with and without engines present different philosophies and performance which cannot be taken in account by the same formulas. There is no doubt that the additional weight of the engine is a disadvantage for the motor glider in weak weather conditions (approx. 85 kg to be added to 300 kg), but not in good conditions when the wings are filled up with water. However, the pilot of a plain glider can drop the additional ballast, the pilot of a motor glider cannot do the same.
On the other hand there may be conditions by which a plain glider has to land out, while a motorglider can complete the flight by using the engine for just a few minutes. In uncertain and difficult weather conditions the motor gliders are able to obtain a reasonable scoring, but it is understandable that pilots of plain gliders do not like to start a task when an outlanding is certain. Whereas the motor gliders can start a task with a cloudbase of 600 m, plain gliders require at least 900 m.
Another disadvantage of the integrated class is the reduced flexibility in launching. Whereas 22 motor gliders can launch in 10 minutes the 31 aircraft of the integrated class required more than 1 hour. At least one competition day was lost for this reas on.
As a result of the last two German competitions it must be said that the integration is not satisfactory, but Helmut Lehmann would not yet call the integrated championships in question. An inquiry among pilots of this class showed a relatively clear attitude in favour of the concept. The integrated championships of the 18 m cl ass should be continued, but not together with the 15 m and the open class.
Helmut Lehmann will therefore present three requests to the Gliding/Motor Gliding Commission of the German Aero Club:
a) Organisation at a regular 2-year interval of German Championships of the 18 m Integrated Class with "photo-vache". The next ones would take place in Mühldorf/Inn in August 1996.
b) Organisation of German Motor Glider Championships at a 2-year interval for the three classes 15 m, 18 m, and open. The next would take place in 1997, place and date to be decided.
c) When these two cycles are decided by the commission, he would ask the DAeC to bid for European Motor Gliding Championships in 1998. By then the development of the new 18 m class will certainly have made progress, and we should know more about it.
Finally Professor Morelli mentioned that the touring motor gliders have obviously disappeared from the competition scene, but that there are ideas to use them as tow planes for light gliders.
The following discussion led to a result which was formulated by Vice President Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon: Motor gliders foster the basis idea of IGC to enable people to fly. For this reason we should support the efforts in favour of MG-World Championships.
1. Glider Pilot's Licence.
The European gliding and ballooning licences will not be harmonized. EGU will compile a document on standards and safety procedures as basis for discussions with the JAA, in order to obtain a maximum of autonomy for the EGU member organisations.
2. Touring Motor Gliders.
All gliders with retractable propulsion systems will remain gliders and can be flown with a glider pilot licence.
Regarding the touring motor gliders (TMG) the EGU takes the following views:
- The TMG must remain accessible for glider pilots through their national licence;
- Aeroplane pilots must have a special training for being allowed to fly a TMG.as a glider
The JAA Flight Crew Licensing Committee has decided that each country will be free to use its existing motor glider licensing system alongside the JAA FCL provisions. EGU will ask advice regarding the further proceeding from the members at the congress i
n March 1996.
3. Airspace.
The EGU members received an extensive report on the results of the seminar on "Flexible Use of Airspace", held in Luxembourg on 29. and 30.June, 1995. The European states were encouraged to have their military and civil authorities cooperate in a
flexible way in the use of their airspace. It is very important that a gliding representative is involved in every country when these matters are discussed.
4. Radio.
There are three problems ahead:
A) Annex 10: Several VHF sets used in gliding will formally no longer be per mittet because of their insufficient protection against strong signals on the adjacent FM band. EGU, together with Europe Airsports, hopes to obtain a reasonable temporary arrangement.
B) New Channel Separation: It is foreseeable that ICAO will accept the proposal to change to a 8.33 kHz channel separation. The EGU makes efforts that a reasonable part of the MHz band (e.g. 118 - 124 MHz) will be left in 25 kHz separation for the time being and asks for the support of the EGU members.
C) European Frequencies for Gliding: The EGU endeavours with the support of their members to obtain eight frequencies in Europe especially reserved for gliding. These frequencies should lie in the possible 25 kHz part of the band.
5. Flight Plans. Talks are being held to abolish the flight plan obligation for border crossing flights within the European Union.
6. JAR 22 Jan-Eric Olsson represents the EGU in JAR-22 meetings. He and bill Scull are doing an excellent job.
7. Insurance. There is very little progress in this field. The coordinator Yves Pollet retired from this function and will be replaced by Tom Zealley. It remains very difficult ti find competent and active specialists in this sphere.
8. Cooperation with Other Organisations. The cooperation with the organizations Europe Airsports and particulary with the FAI works very well. There are some problems in the cooperation with the IAOPA.
9. Public Relations. Brian Spreckley had allowed reporting on the EGU activities in the European gliding News. Mrs Janet Janowitsch - successor of Brian Spreckley as editor of the EGN - attended the IGC meeting and promised to continue with this tradition.
10 The EGU Internal Organisation. The Executive Committee tries to have more meetings together with the coordinators, money permitting. A lot of the success depends on the activity of the members with EGU guidance. Glider pilots of European countries not being EGU members as yet should encourage their organisation to support the EGU by joining it. They will thus be invited to participate in the EGU activities and automatically receive all relevant documents.
The discussion following this report expressed the appreciation of the plenum for the work of the EGU which was explicitly stressed by the President Professor Ryder. Vice President Alvaro de Orleans Borbon manifested his satisfaction that his original doubts concerning the EGU have proved unfounded.
A new version of the General Section of the Sporting Code will be decided upon at the coming FAI General Conference in Sun City. There is also a proposal for a change in the Statutes of the FAI, replacing the present First Vice President with three Senior Vice Presidents.
The FAI will soon (end of October) be on the INTERNET. The Sporting Code, information on records and competitions etc. will soon be available for direct access from the net. Later, it is hope to install a World Wide Web page for hypertext. Electronic mail services will be available as soon as the connection is made. The address: sec@fai.org. The IGC President will act as contact person for the IGC. He stressed the convenience of electronic communication and urged the delegates to obtain internet connections as far as possible. Six of the delegates present indicated that they already had a connection. The Netherlands delegate pointed out that the internet could be used for advertizing gliding and attracting sponsors.
Professor Piero Morelli - chairman of the World Class Sub Committee - reported:
In December 1987 the suggestion was made to create the world class glider, since then the time schedule was followed, the aircraft exists in approximately 30 pieces. IGC should enter the last step now and announce World Championships in this class.
Unfortunately there are serious problems, because the winner of the design competition - the University of Warszaw - does not comply with the requirements for drawings, templates, and ballast.
a) Drawings were issued on cassettes, but could not be read by experts at the Politecnico Torino nor by manufacturers in the USA, who expressed their disappointment in long letters to Poland. After Professor Morelli's emphatic letter, the designers promised to provide hard copies of the drawings for extra pay and finally they issue d them free of charge to one of the manufacturers, explicitly stressing that this was an exception. The chairman cannot understand the behavior of the Warsaw group, because the rules are absolutely clear.
b) Templates are indispensable for checking whether any changes have been made to the airfoils. These templates could vary from a simple mechanic device to electronic instruments. In spite of several urgent reminders nothing has happened so far.
c) Ballast is necessary to bring all gliders in a contest to the same all-up weight. The designers propose "ballast (lead pans) under the seat", which cannot be accepted, because invisible if the seat shell is not removed. The rules of JAR 22 must be ful filled. Although Professor Morelli tried his best, it was not possible as yet to achieve a satisfactory solution.
The chairman also asked PZL Swidnik for information on sales, but without any result. Instead of an answer to his questions he received a message, that the Austrian dealer of the PW 5 glider wants to organize World Championships in the World Class. All this happened in spite of the fact, that FAI told the Poles in due time to contact the World Class Sub Committee for all technical matters Professor Morelli views all this as very unsatisfactory.
Further, Professor Morelli informed the plenum that four manufacturers so far bought the licence for 2000 Swiss Francs to produce the PW 5. There is also an increasing interest in the World Class, e.g. the World Class Soaring Association in the USA with members from all over the world. David Habercom - the President of this organisation - published a World Class market survey completed by the University of Tennessee (see Annex D).
The ensuing discussion proved that President and delegates of IGC are prepared to support the World Class Sub Committee in every respect. Professor Ryder will write corresponding letters to Poland and take up contacts to FAI Presidents and other important persons at the FAI General Conference in South Africa. He summarized the weak points of the cooperation between IGC and the PW 5 designers and manufacturers: No information from the factory, no drawings, no templates and no solution for the ball ast from the University.
The Polish delegate Dr. Waldemar Ratajczak reported that PZL in Swidnik had constructed a second set of moulds by now and will produce a greater number of PW 5 in future. He offered his help in establishing an efficient communication to the Warszaw University and the manufacturers in Swidnik.
Finally, the plenum agreed that no world championships or world air games for the World Class would be organized before the existing difficulties are solved. A decision should be taken in the March meeting 1996 in Paris.
Fred Weinholtz, IGC event expert for the World Air Games gliding contest 1997 in Inönü, West Anatolia, Turkey, was a second time in Turkey in September - this time accompanied by the experts Carsten Lindemann and Rainer Wienzek. All three were accepted by the Turk organizers as advisors. An ample report on the present status of the planned event was submitted to FAI, FAI World Air Games Co-ordination Committee, the Turkish Air Association (THK), and to the IGC Bureau. Fred Weinholtz presented a summary of this report to the plenum:
As results of test flights and of a report from the meteorologist Carsten Lindemann it can be expected that - even in September - the soaring weather conditions in Western Anatolia are suited for contest flying, although better conditions prevail in the summertime. There are plenty of large and even outlanding fields.
The National Turkish Gliding Center Inönü provides a very well equipped contest site with a big airfield, rather a lot of buildings for all necessary use, all essential facilities, and - with 70 full paid employees - more than the required manpower. The Turkish organizers proved to be cooperative, dedicated, and willing to lead the contest to the intended success. Funds will doubtlessly be no problem.
The Turkish hosts have not much experience in organizing first class gliding championships. For this reason Fred Weinholtz, Carsten Lindemann, and Rainer Wienzek - all three from Germany - will serve as advisors of the organizers for preparation and during the event itself. IGC is requested to acknowledge them as stewards. The proposal for the composition of the International Jury will be: Tor Johannessen as President, and Piero Morelli - also in his capacity as the chairman of the IGC World Class su b committee - as Vice President. The third Jury member will be a deserved Turkish glider pilot, to be nominated later.
It is the intention of IGC to organize the World Air Games gliding contest for the World Class Glider, if possible even as World Championships in this class. However, due to the problems mentioned above (5.2), it is not yet possible for the IGC to announce a World Class championship. A further necessary condition is that enough World Class gliders must be available by 1997. Then there is the problem of getting the gliders to Turkey. Furthermore, that IGC and the organizers must succeed in convincin g the worldwide gliding community of the importance and attractivity of such an event. This can be done by excellent offers for travel, stay, costs, etc, and - particularly - by a real challenging contest organization with exciting flying. Also an attractive name must be found for the contest. Many ideas have been exchanged between the advisors and the THK, detailed plans will be worked out in time before the IGC March meeting 1996.
At present the total participation costs for a pilot - including one helper and the proportional costs for the team captain - will be approximately 5000 to 7000 US$ for a pilot from Europe and approximately 9000 to 12000 US$ for a pilot from overseas, depending on travel distances and living standard in Turkey.
By the introduction of a new contest - particularly if it can be flown in the World Class - the unique opportunity should be used to initiate new ideas and methods into competition flying, especially regarding tasks and scoring.
Fred Weinholtz will ask the plenum in March 1996 for their consent to go new ways for the benefit of gliding, and - because of the lack of time (the test competition will already be in September 1995) - to pass some of their competence to the Bureau in close cooperation with the IGC World Class sub committee and the IGC WAG advisory group.
The President thanked Fred Weinholtz for the hard work he has been doing in preparing our contribution to the World Air Games and complimented him on the excellent report he had submitted to the Bureau.
Hakan Bakir - IGC delegate of the THK - submitted the regards of his organisation. He emphasized the expositions of Fred Weinholtz, and apologized for not being able to present the complete competition planning as yet, but the time was too short and too many details have to be settled. He announced the distribution of the invitation for the test competition "International Turkish Gliding Contest 1996" for the end of the year.
The Swiss delegate Dr. Hans Nietlispach stressed the reasons, why he is proposing a new scoring system for gliding contests, e.g. lower cost and more simplicity. Since the European meeting cannot decide on a matter of worldwide significance, he asked the delegates to think and discuss on his proposal at home.
Ian Strachan (UK) mentioned the "Wallington System" as the simplest scoring method of all, which was used and had been proved to work very well in England. This system is the same as that used in car racing, giving points corresponding to the day's placing.
Hannes Linke, USA, favoured a formula that encourages pilots to avoid outlandings. Juri Kusnietsov expressed the opinion that the formula published in the Sporting Code at present has been developed over many years. To simplify it would mean to step backwards. Against the placing system it was argued that human beings - for psychological reasons - want to gain points, even if they are far behind in the scoring list. Vice President Ake Pettersson criticized that the Wallington scoring system does not match the objectives of gliding competitions. It is useless to take trouble to improve the performance for somebody lying in front, because he will not gain more points. Different methods to improve the placing system were presented.
Tor Johannessen recalled the times when he was new to the IGC (at the beginning of the seventies) and scoring was one of the main items of this body. Since then he learned that a scoring system can be enormously complicated, but that simple systems can give surprisingly similar results. He expressed the opinion that, if IGC wants to experiment, then it must be done on top (e.g. World Air Games).
Finally, Vice President Tor Johannessen suggested forming a working group in Paris to consider the matter and to present corresponding proposals.
For the Austrian decentralized gliding competiton - comparable to the Barron Hilton Cup - a new rule was introduced in 1993. For each predeclared, traditional task a "free task" was introduced additionally. For "free goal flights" all points except the goal, and for "free flights" all points may be selected in flight. All flights - free or predeclared -are scored in the same way, namely kilometers flown multiplied by the different course factors for triangle, out and return, goal, and free distance.
The course factors differ slightly: Goal flights straight or via one turn point (broken leg), out and return flights, and "flat" triangles score 1.25 points per km for predeclared flights, and 1.2 points per km for free flights (a reduction of 4%), FAI triangles score 1.5 points per km if predeclared and 1.45 per km for free flights. All other flights without goal and legs finishing with an outlanding are scored 1 point per km for both kinds of flights.
The philosophy behind this action is that pilots should be enabled to fly the longest possible distance of the day, and it should be their decision to choose the system they like best, - predeclared or free. Of the 12 flights of the last year's winners ( 3 flights in each of the the four classes) six flights were free, 3 in club, 2 in stan-dard, 1 in 15 m, and none in the open class. All winning pilots had predeclared their tasks before the take off because of the 3% to 4% bonus, but only half of them managed to fly these tasks, the other half switched over to free tasks. 52% of the total number of flights entered in the dezentralized competition were not predeclared.
The percentages predeclared and free flights in the different courses were (the free flights being the second figure): Goal straight and broken leg = 3%/3%; Out and Return = 10%/12%; Flat triangle = 14%/16%; FAI triangle 21%/7%; Jo-jo = 0%/2%; Unfinished goal flights: 0%/11%.
The result of the policy of Austrian gliding was more fun for the pilots, a strong increase in cross country flying, and an easier first step for new-comers and not contest-minded glider pilots.
At the end of his report Herbert Pirker recommended the introduction of records for free triangles and free distance around up to three turn points.
The attendants agreed that free flights - particularly in marginal weather condi-tions - are great fun. Many of them had enjoyed such experiences themselves, also Vice President Tapio Savolainen, Finland, who, nevertheless, doubted that for this reason free flights must have their own world records.
Vice President Jor Johannessen finished the discussion with the comment, that the first record for free flights will come into effect only the followind day, on 1st October, 1995, and should have at least one season in the Northern Hemi-sphere, before any further changes are considered.
GFAC stands for GNSS FR Approval Committee, and GNSS stands for Global Navigation Satellite System, and is a generic term for systems such as the US GPS and the Russian GLONASS. The term Flight Recorder (FR) is used instead of "logger" to avoid difficulties in translation.
IGC GFAC members were approved at the March 1995 IGC and are currently Angel Casado (Spain), Arnie Hartley (Australia), Ian Strachan (UK), Mike Strang (USA), and Akaflieg Stuttgart (Germany). Akaflieg Stuttgart nominated Kilian Grefen to do the work, and in April, GFAC elected Ian Strachan as chairman.
Requirements for GNSS FRs were contained in the new Annex B to the Sporting Code, a draft of which was circulated at the March IGC meeting and the final version was published by FAI together with Amendment 3 to the Code in July. Like Amend-ment 3, it took effect on 1 Oct 95.
Application forms for manufacturers (see Annexes F1 and F2 ) were drafted in April, as at least one manufacturer had said that equipment might be submitted for GFAC approval in late April. A disclaimer was drafted, having taken legal advice from Swiss, French and English lawyers. This disclaimer is to be signed by the head of the company concerned and was to protect FAI, IGC and GFAC against, for instance, any action from manufacturers dissatisfied by GFAC decisions. French law applies.
As at 30 September, application forms had been sent to 8 companies, one had subsequently withdrawn, leaving 7 intending to submit equipment for approval. Only one company had (by 30 September) submitted equipment, and that had only arrived in mid-September. It had been flown, driven over surveyed points such as crossroads, been calibrated in an altitude chamber, and was currently being tested at the Farnborough scientific site. The average accuracy at the surveyed points, based on a small samp le so far, was about 40 metres. Another company had said that they would soon be sending equipment for evaluation.
One object was simplicity of operation for glider pilots, particularly before flight, but always subject to the Annex B rules on data security. Security rules had to be more rigorous than, for instance, those used for competitions; because compe-titions were more supervised. Also, GFAC had to be even-handed in dealing with different manufacturers and was developing a standard methodology for testing and evaluation.
When GFAC decided to approve equipment, a statement of approval would be drafted which would include any requirements for sealing before flight, stowage out of reach, insertion of Official Observer's personal codes, etc. The statement of approval would be public domain information and would be sent to FAI, and the Paris office would then mail it to all NACs who would be responsible for informing pilots and Official Observers. It could also be put in the Internet, for instance on the newsgroup rec.aviation.soaring.
Delegates asked whether details of equipment which had not been approved would be given, or whether any other results of the evaluation would be published. It was stated that only the details of approval would be given by GFAC, and other proceedings and results would be confidential to GFAC and/or the manufacturer concerned. Any policy issues would be raised through Bernald Smith (Chairman of the IGC GNSS sub-committee), Tor Johannessen (Rules sub-committee), the Bureau, or IGC itself.
The German Air Sports Youth (Luftsportjugend - LSJ) is the youth organization within the German Aero Club (DAeC), the national federation for all air sports. The LSJ has its own statutes and budget, and is characterized by its multitude of methods, contents and supporters. Its structure is much more manifold than that of a sports commission because it represents all air sports, in the same way as the parent organization DAeC. The most important goal of the LSJ is to care for the younger generation, to interest them in, to guide them to, and to win them for the fascination of air sports. This is the fundamental difference to the good youth work done within the commissions, where normally young people are already hooked when they become members.
The LSJ tries to address young people very early, to help them find new impulses and views of life by pursuing for air sports. Thus they are more busy in the area of "mass sports" and general work for the youth. For this reason the LSJ is supported - financially and spiritually - by the German goverment, particularly by the Minister of Family, Seniors, Women, and Youth. Because the public budgeds are decreasing, the organization must permanently prove their qualified and successful work.
The LSJ is the only German sports youth organization with a youth training and education center in their absolute ownership. This was an essential guarantee for 40 years of successful youth work. For more than 15 years by now - at first in Hirzenhain and since 1995 in Laucha - they have been organizing international youth camps and meetings. What politicians all over Europe have been trying for a long time by installing a United Europe already exists in Laucha. By gliding the cultural life of the inte rnational youth is made richer and new perspectives are opened. It is their vision to overcome the borders on the ground by radiating the freedom of gliding. They make great efforts to contribute to European cooperation via the medium air sports, and particularly gliding.
The hill slope in Laucha was discovered for gliding in 1930 and became famous very soon. Located in the rain shadow of the Harz mountains, the airfield with an area of 1 square kilometer offers great conditions, air sports can operate all the year round. The limestone terrain produces excellent thermals, there is a soaring ridge of 3 km nearby and the wave flying area "Thüringer Forest" - only recently installed - is within easy reach.
The air sports community must not forget their own roots in flying and must not forget arguing for the youth. If they do not want air sports to be expelled out of the airspace, if they want to strive for a save future of all air sports, they must not for get the following generation.
Finally Mrs Engel appealed to the delegates to make themselves advocates for youth matters in their countries and to offer wise and effective chances. The German Air Sport Youth would be glad to find a kind of an agent in all countries. As "advisory board" they offer information on their structures, experiences, and activities. They also would be very happy to see young poeple from Europe and all over the world in their youth camps at Laucha.
The excellent cooperation between IGC/FAI and the management of the Barron Hilton Cup is very much appreciated by both of the partners, and will probably be continued far into the future.
The idea is considered by the BHC management, but not decided as yet, to offer a worldwide prize to the gliding club with the most cross country kilometers per year. This prize could for instance be a high performance sailplane. It would be awarded to every nation only once.
The competition - running for two years each time - will be finished with the end of 1995. The rules for the competition 1996/97 will be published in time, far-reaching changes are not to be expected. The sanction fees for the year 1996 will be paid.
Brian Spreckley, the founder and - hitherto - editor of the European Gliding News has retired from this task because of other work. The magazin with quarterly publication will be edited by Mrs Janet Janowitsch in future. The new editor attended the IGC meeting and asked for good and efficient cooperation for the benefit of the EGN, which has proved to be an excellent and quick information source during the short time of its existence.
In the IGC March meeting 1995 the delegates from Russia and from Italy requested FAI to change the weight limit for ultra light gliders from an empty weight of 100 kg to an all-up weight of 200 kg. OSTIV was asked for advice.
Professor Morelli, on behalf of the OSTIV Sailplane Development Panel, anticipated that in the USA and in Germany UL gliders are defined with an empty weight limit of 73 kg and 90 kg, respectively. In the USA UL gliders exist with an empty weight below 7 3 kg or between 73 and 100 kg. Many of those below 73 kg and all of those between 73 and 100 kg are not footlaunched. Therefore, they should belong to IGC and not to the FAI Hang Gliding Commission.
Professor Morelli added that a more comprehensive report on this matter will be presented at the IGC March meeting, 1996.
The German delegate, Bruno Gantenbrink, informed the delegates on a decision of the Gliding and Motorgliding Commission of the German Aero Cub, in future not to acknowledge any national gliding records, when the landing was later than 30 minutes after sun-set. The reason for this decision was to discourage pilots from continuing record attemps under dangerous conditions in darkness. Bruno Gantenbrink announced an application to enter a corresponding rule for the March meeting 1996.
Desires were expressed to have the meeting a few weeks earlier or later because of the General meeting of FAI. A majority of the delegates prefered the end of October for the meeting. After discussion it was agreed that the Bureau will make a proposal after the dates of the FAI General Conference 1996 are known. This proposal will be published with the invitation for the March meeting and can be changed by the delegates in March, if they do not agree.
The March meeting will be in the INJEP (Institut National de la Jeunesse et de L'Education Populaire) in Marly le Roi, easy to arrive by train or RER in a 25 minute journey. The center is 300 m away from the railway station.