IMPORTANT NOTICE TO WORLD TEAM PILOTS AND HANG GLIDING MANUFACTURERS
01 June 2001
A recent hang gliding fatality on a class 2 glider in Europe has resulted in legal action against certain parties. The main interest of the party initiating the action was to have the upcoming World Air Games and World Championship cancelled for reasons of perceived inadequate glider safety standards.
The CIVL took this matter very seriously and has been in communication with the main proponent of this action. In good faith we pointed out that our existing safety regulations related to both the organization of competitions and equipment. These regulations are contained in our rulebook, Sporting Code, Section 7. At the upcoming World Air Games and World Championship we will be abiding strictly by this rulebook. Most specifically, the rules on glider certification and prototype gliders will be followed in the manner outlined below:
- Each glider must be accompanied by a valid certificate or statement of airworthiness provided by the NAC entering the glider.
- A glider holding a certification certificate from a CIVL recognised testing body cannot have its configuration altered in any way. The pilot presenting the NAC certificate will have to sign a document stating that the glider has not been modified in comparison to the tested and certified model.
- A glider that has been altered from its original configuration or a glider that has not been tested is considered a prototype and must comply with the following requirements:
- Each glider must have a serial number for identification.
- The pilot must present a document from the manufacturer that authorises that pilot to fly the prototype.
- The glider must comply with the safety standards described in Section 7, Chapter 22.
The details of the ruling are contained in
paragraph 5.14 of Section 7.
Leading test pilots confirm that altering the wing twist on Class 2 designs may greatly affect the glider's resistance to spins, which can threaten the safety of the pilot and those around him. Similarly, altering the pitch stability of any glider can threaten the glider safety. All pilots are therefore urged to fly their gliders in certified configuration.
