Response to questions regarding WAG (paragliding)Qualification Criteria
The additional pilot qualification requirements are generating reactions and questions and I wish to clarify things.
It is a fact that the 2/3 rule does not avoid fatal accidents. This is certainly due to a number of factors, including the number of pilots competing in a Category 2 event and the conditions during the competition. For instance we cannot compare a Category 2 event run in September in the Southern Alps with 40 pilots and the 2000 PWC event in Sierra Nevada.
It has been suggested that because we have known for a long time that conditions can be strong in Sierra Nevada, it is unfair to change the qualification criteria 6 months before the event.
A bit of history will help explain this decision:
In 1991, France was awarded the 2nd World PG Championship in Digne. Following a fatal accident during the test competition in 1990, CIVL required the organiser to take steps to improve safety. One of the decisions was to include in the Local Regulations the additional qualification requirements for pilots to either have the Silver Eagle Badge or to have flown twice the Silver Badge distance (i.e. 2 x 30 kms). These Local Regulations were accepted 6 months before the meet. John Pendry, was competing in a Category 1 paragliding competition for the first time, and in order to fulfil the qualification criteria he went to Digne a week before the event to fly 2 x 30kms.
The Organiser, the Steward and the CIVL bureau decided to apply the same process to the 2001 WAG paragliding competition.
The Eagle Gold badge and the 100 kms have been discussed at length. Whilst the 1991 competition in Digne only required the Silver Badge or 2 x 30 kms, paragliders had less performance in 1991. With today’s higher performance paragliders 30kms is a very small distance. Furthermore, the Digne event was held in September with gentler thermal conditions. For these reasons the Eagle Gold badge combined with the 2/3 rule have been judged to be reasonable qualification criteria for the 2001 WAG Paragliding competition.
Another comment refers to a mail sent by me suggesting that all the proposals in the Bureau minutes could be discussed during the next Plenary which is perfectly true. However, these additional qualification requirements are specific to the 2001 WAG (PG), Local Regulations (they are not a section 7 requirement) and have been agreed upon by the organiser, the PG Subcommittee Chairman, the Steward and the CIVL Bureau.
In addition, it has been said that if we require such additional requirement then the site is not suitable for a World Championship. Here once more I must point out that the WAG is a compromise that must accommodate all the other airsports.
The selection procedure:
Pilots who do not meet the ‘a’ or ‘b’ requirements are required to fulfil the last qualification option, which is to produce evidence of their flying skill showing long distance flight record and experience in international competition.
Evidence will be required showing;
- hours flown per year,
- long distance flights (kms)
- international competitions the pilot has participated in, including number of pilots and overall result
Note that a pilot flying a serial class wing is advantageous to safety and will be taken into consideration.
There is no strict rule, we just want to open discussions with the team leaders to make sure that the pilots are skilled enough. The 100 km requirement is to indicate the required skill level.
The selection will be done by a small committee composed of the Organiser(Juan Morillas), the Steward (Xavier Murillo) and myself (Olivier Burghelle).
WAG (Paragliding) TEAM SIZE
It seems that some clarification needs to be given:
The Section 7 rule 23.4.2 applies.
On February 18th 2001 (4 months before the first day of the Championship) the team size will be decided according to the Country Ranking at that time.
Since we don’t know how many pilots can qualify for this event, ALL countries are asked to nominate 5 (male) + 2 (female) pilots who are qualified at that time (18th February 2001).
This does not mean that a NAC has to make the selection at that time, only that the NAC must guarantee the country can enter a minimum number of pilots.
During the CIVL Plenary meeting (22-25 February, 2001) a decision will be made in the event we cannot fill up the 150 avilable places (increasing the team size and how).
Note: all the entries must be confirmed with entry fee paid by the 31st of March.
Pilots not having paid their entry fee by this date will be considered as withdrawn from the event and their place will be re-allocated according to 23.4.2. No extra fee will be charged for pilots accepted after the 1st of April.
Note: according to Section 7 pilots can be changed up until the first day of competition, however all pilots must be qualified in accordance with the criteria for the event.
I hope you understand that my concern is for pilot’s safety. The procedure will be a bit complicated, and the organiser, the steward and myself will have an additional work-load, however if it can help save someone’s life it will be well worth it.
Olivier Burghelle
CIVL President
