Camperdown Centra - Sydney

24th and 25th March 2001

Meeting Commenced – Saturday at 10.15 a.m. recessed at 6.00 p.m.
Recommenced - Sunday at 8.20 a.m. and closed at 4.10 p.m.

Attendees
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Michael Zupanc - CIVL Delegate
Tim Cummings - HG Rep
Stewart Dennis - PG Development Rep
Karl Texler - PG Rep
Ian Ladyman - PG Rep
Tove Heaney - Women’s Rep
Craig Worth - HGFA General Manager

Apology
Mark Howard – WM Rep

Appointments
-------------------
Minute secretary – Craig Worth
Competitions Committee convenor – Mike Zupanc
Competitions Manual editor - Mike Zupanc
Competition Organisers Handbook editor – Karl Texler
Hang Gliding Ladder editor - Mike Zupanc
Paragliding Ladder editor – Ian Ladyman
Trophies – Tove Heaney
HG Competition Calendar Coordinator – Tove Heaney
PG Competition Calendar Coordinator – Karl Texler

Documents to be Tabled
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Sanction Applications
HG Sanction Application – (Canungra) St Bernard’s Hang Gliding Classic 2001
HG Sanction Application - Canungra Sunday Summer Series 2001
HG Sanction Application - Canungra Sunday Winter Series 2001

Abbreviations used in these Minutes
--------------------------------------------------
CC Competitions Committee
CCC – Competition Calendar Co-ordinator
DQF – day quality factor
HG - hang glider
PG - paraglider
WM - Weightshift Microlight

Minuted items are not necessarily shown in chronological order.

All Action items from the last CC meeting were completed other than those listed.

ACTION 00.1     HGFA Office to invoice competition at start of competition
Not completed.

Action 01.1:     Craig Worth to check that all competition organisers have paid CIVL Category 2 sanction fees and paragliding competition organisers have paid the $5 per entrant HGFA sanction fee. Organisers are to be invoiced for these fees if they have not been paid.
Craig Worth also to ensure that this process is implemented for future competitions.

ACTION 00.3     Michael Zupanc and Ian Jarman. Two Sanction forms (a Preliminary form and a Full form) to be published on the web.
Completion of this item is awaiting the upgrade of the HGFA Web site. Once this is completed Mike Zupanc is to add the form.
Action completed.

ACTION 00.4    Ian Jarman. Send letter of recognition and thanks from HGFA to comp organisers for last season and coming season.
Action completed.

Action 01.2:     This practice to be annually implemented by Craig Worth and to include reference to the HGFA web site where comp organisers can obtain a current Comps Manual. It is also to reinforce the need for comp organisers to ensure that all competitors are HGFA members.

National Team Sizes for Category 1 FAI Paragliding Events

ACTION 00.7     Re Team Sizes for Category 1 Events.
Partially completed - primarily by Stewart Dennis.

Stewart’s proposal was for team sizes to be determined using a qualifying competition rather than the current system. It was not accepted by the CIVL.

Motion 01.1:     That the CC supports Stewart Dennis’ proposal re team sizes.

Moved:     Tim Cummings     Seconded: Karl Texler.     Passed.

Action 01.3:     Stewart Dennis to make some minor adjustments to his proposal and pass it to Mike Zupanc for submission to the CIVL Bureau meeting in November 2001.

ACTION 00.9     Karl Texler. The NZHGF should be asked if they would like either Manilla or Bright (or Canungra) to be called the NZ Nationals.  Indonesia and PNG and New Caledonia also to be invited to boost numbers.  100 entrants would give full CIVL Cat 2 validity.

Completed – though declined by NZ for this season. Negotiations are ongoing between Karl Texler and the NZHGF to organise the NZ Nationals next season in Bright.

Indonesia’s problems in gaining access to Category 1 events were discussed. Indonesian pilots can benefit by attending the Australian competitions next year.

Action 01.4:     Craig Worth to pass on contacts for Indonesian Association to Karl Texler to offer an invitation to come to the Australian competitions next season.

ACTION 00.10     Tim Cummings. Facilitate introduction of the National League competition.
Completed – though passed to Mark Thompson to run using the rules of the WA Cross Country League – to be called the CMAC X-C League.

Discussion led to the practise known as “double dipping” where pilots can use flights in a Ladder Competition and again in the X-C League event. This can affect rankings on the Paragliding National Ladder.

Motion 01.2:     That any one paragliding flight cannot be used for more than one event that scores on the national ladder.

Moved: Ian Ladyman     Seconded: Karl Texler     Passed.

ACTION 00.12     Comp Organisers. All results to Ian Ladyman by Monday 12 Feb 2001
Completed other than WA competition.

Action 01.5:     Mike Zupanc to recalculate the WA results for PG only and pass on to IL.

Action 01.6:     IL to arrange to place past paragliding competition results on the HGFA web page as HTML files. Tim Cummings to do the same for Manilla, Forbes and Canungra competitions.

ACTION 00.38     Karl Texler. The Competition Organiser's Handbook needs to be reviewed to bring up to date and use CIVL Competition Organiser's Handbook for additional ideas.
Completed.

Action 01.7:     Karl Texler to reinsert film requirements, which had been removed as these, may still be used for some events.

ACTION 00.46     Ian Jarman. Ask board to approve automatic issuance of FAI Awards to pilots in competitions based on results of sanctioned competitions that have been sent to HGFA office. Not completed.

Action 01.8:     Craig Worth to advise competition organisers of the requirements for attaining FAI Badges and encourage competitors to apply.

Action 01.9:     Craig Worth to determine what badges have been issued to HGFA members and have these posted on the HGFA website.

ACTION 00.47     Stewart Dennis - All items re survey

Almost completed. Stewart reported that most Clubs have sent back surveys and he is chasing more returns. Though he has only carried out some preliminary analysis, this has indicated that most participants are looking to improve their skills and have some good flying at events.

Once full results of the survey are available they can be provided to competition organisers to enable them to tailor competitions to make them more attractive to pilots.

Action 01.10:     Stewart Dennis to compile the results of the survey and pass these on to CC members and discuss the survey with Belinda Head, the National Development Officer.

The CIVL report had previously been circulated to CC members via e-mail by Mike Zupanc.

Some inclusions were discussed, including:

Future World Championships will be:
2003 PG Worlds Championships in Brazil
2003 PG World Accuracy Championship in Slovenia
2003 HG World Championships in Brazil
2003 HG World Speed Gliding in USA

Though Paragliding Team size criteria have been changed, the number of team members scoring on each day for the Team score has remained at three. This will disadvantage smaller teams such as Australia.

Action 01.11:     Mike Zupanc to pass a summary of the CIVL report to the HGFA CC mailing list.

3. COMPETITIONS, CALENDAR AND SANCTION APPROVALS
==================================================

Tove Heaney presented a proposal to make changes to competitions to encourage pilots of all skill levels to attend events.  Her proposal is to have differing tasks for various class gliders to maximise all pilots’ chances of making goal.  Activities for poor weather days to encourage social interaction would also be organised.

Competition Calendar

The following calendars were drafted for circulation and discussion. It was agreed to ask all organisers to verify their intentions by addressing the criteria for assessment of sanction laid out in the Competition Manual Section 3.2.4.

Action 01.12:     Mike Zupanc to post draft calendars on the HGFA website.

Action 01.13:     Tove Heaney (HG) and Karl Texler (PG) to coordinate email communication with competition organisers and finalise next season’s calendar.

Action 01.14:     Mike Zupanc and Karl Texler to amend the Comps Manual and Comp Organisers Handbook to reflect that organisers should contact the Competition Calendar Coordinators.

Next season’s PG sanctions awarded and event calendar (preliminary)

Note: Check the HGFA web site for final version of Competition Calendar when it is published.

Required GAP Parameters – Paragliding

Next season’s HG sanctions awarded and event calendar (preliminary)

Required GAP Parameters – Hang Gliding

Sanctions – CIVL Category 2 events

It was agreed that all AAA and AA Competitions should apply for CIVL Category 2 sanction.

Action 01.15:     Craig Worth to ensure that all next season’s AAA and AA competitions are invoiced for one competitor fee.

Sanction Determination for Late Sanction Applications

In the past some competition organisers have made late application for sanction.  It was agreed that such late applications should be handled by the CCC's and forwarded to CC reps for confirmation of sanction levels.

Action 01.16:     The HGFA Office to forward late sanction applications to the appropriate CCC.

Sanction fees – HGFA (PG only)

Dissatisfaction has been expressed by one paragliding competition organiser regarding the application of a $5 per pilot per competitor sanction fee that is used to refund paragliding CC members competition entry fees.   It was identified that the dissatisfaction resulted from a belief that both the fee and free entry for CC reps are required; this is not the case – organisers are not required to provide free entry, but only to pay the $5 per entrant fee. The committee agreed that the process of applying the $5 fee was appropriate and that the fee should stand.

4. TEAM SELECTION & FUNDING
===========================
HGFA funding of national teams entry fees

Motion 01.03:     That HGFA financial support for National Teams competing at FAI category 1 events nominated by the CC be increased $1000 per pilot as in past years.

Moved:    Karl Texler      Seconded:       Tim Cummings   Passed.

Action 01.17:     Craig Worth to pass the CCs request on to the HGFA Management Board for consideration at their next meeting.

Team Selection Panel

PG  - A team selection panel should not be required as the Australian Team size will increase to include 5 men + 2 women. Should a panel be required it is to be made up by Enda Murphy, Karl Texler and Mike Zupanc.

HG  - If required, the team selection panel to be Rohan Holtkamp, Mike Zupanc and Tim Cummings.

Action 01.18: Craig Worth to determine a minimum number of entrants for both HG and PG teams and pay preliminary entry fees prior to April 1 to save having to pay the 10% late payment penalty charge.

Uniforms and National Anthem for World Air Games ceremonies.

It was agreed that there should be uniforms of similar make and design to team members, perhaps a shirt and shorts for each competitor.

Action 01.19:     Ian Ladyman to approach Rip Curl re sponsorship for team uniforms.

Action 01.20:     Stewart Dennis to determine the need for uniforms and advise Ian Ladyman.

Action 01.21:     Stewart Dennis to approach the Australian Sports Commission for a copy of the Australian National Anthem.

WAG questionnaire

Action 01.22:     Stewart Dennis to circulate questionnaires and pass them to the WAG organisers.

5. ACTIVE AUSTRALIA PROJECTS – CLUB FLY-INS
 =========================================

The need for CC cooperation with National Development Officer and Club Development Officers was endorsed.

Action 01.23:     Stewart Dennis to consult Belinda Head regarding Club fly-ins and entry level competitions.

6. HGFA AWARDS NIGHT
=====================
Trophy and award requirements were discussed.

Tove Heaney agreed to obtain trophies in accordance with the current Manual.

It was agreed that Mike Zupanc be nominated for a volunteer appreciation award given his efforts in carrying out his CC duties over past years.

Action 01.24:     Ian Ladyman and Mike Zupanc to provide details of trophy requirements for the 2000-01 National Ladder placegetters to Tove Heaney.

Action 01.25:     Craig Worth to send perpetual trophy to Tove Heaney.

7. COMPETITIONS MANUAL UPDATES 
===============================

Handicapping – Peter Dall’s Wenyon system

The aims and objectives of the Wenyon Handicap system were discussed.  Peter Dall is seeking CC support of the system; and assistance to incorporate it into the Race program to facilitate its implementation.

Discussion was expanded to consideration of the current grading and class systems compared to the handicap proposal.

Several areas were identified for further consideration:

• The system needs to deal with changes of glider sub-class – options could be a return of the handicap to scratch with a change in glider class – or perhaps implement a factor for each glider sub-class.

• A starting handicap for new pilots needs to be determined.

• The Race software needs to be modified to store a single handicap number for each pilot for the season, which is multiplied by the pilot’s day score to determine performance vs handicap. Race then needs to facilitate a “handicap” result sheet to be printed as well as a total for the whole competition.

• The handicap results from each competition could be totalled at the end of the season to find a handicap champion.

It was agreed to further consider its implementation over the next comp season Pilots need to be consulted to determine whether they would support replacing grades with the handicap system.  National awards should not be provided for the system until it is fully developed and implemented.

Action 01.26:     Craig Worth to seek Brian Webb’s assistance to determine whether the system can be incorporated into the Race software. Brian Webb can discuss the proposal with Peter Dall.

Action 01.27: I    If the software can be developed, Peter Dall can provide it to all competition organisers.

Action 01.28:     Mike Zupanc to publish details on the handicap proposal on HGFA Web Site and the HGFA Competition Mailing List.

Action 01.29:     All CC members to seek feedback from pilots on the handicap system.

Action 01.30:     Craig Worth to ask Peter Dall if he is willing to calculate HG and PG handicaps at the end of each competition season.

Action 01.31:     Craig Worth to ask Peter Dall to send formula for handicap calculation to Ian Ladyman & Brian Webb.

2.7 Safety Committee

Action 01.32:     First line to be amended - replace “contentions” with “conditions”.

3.7.1.1 Class Names - HG

Problems with the cumbersome nature of the current grading system were identified.

Motion 01.4:     That hang glider sub classes be named Open, Kingpost and Floater (Floater to include intermediate gliders such as XTs, Stings, Sonics, etc. and single surface gliders such as Fun, Ventura, XL).

Moved:     Tim Cummings     Seconded: Tove Heaney         Passed.

Action 01.33:     Mike Zupanc to amend Comps Manual to reflect the amended sub classes.

3.7.1.3 Class Names - PG

No changes were deemed necessary.

3.8.1 & 3.8.2   Awards requirements

Motion 01.5: That awards be provided in five categories: Open, Kingpost, Floater, B Grade (including both kingpost & floater) and C Grade (including both kingpost & floater).  Awards also to be provided to women in Open, Kingpost and Floater.

It was agreed that a lesser graded pilot wins a higher grade, the pilot should be awarded trophies from both the lower and higher grade e.g. a C grade pilot wins B grade – he / she is awarded both C and B grade trophies.

Action 01.34:     Mike Zupanc to amend Comps Manual to recommend that organisers print out overall results and determine winners in each class grade rather than using Race’s individual total results.

Action 01.35:     Section 3.8 to be moved to Section 7 for the sake of clarity.

Action 01.36:     Mike Zupanc - National awards for glider classes to be added.

Hang gliding (Men and Women)

Paragliding (Men and Women)

Women’s awards are the same as per previous table (dependant on numbers).

Where entrant numbers do not allow (as laid out in the Comps Manual section 3.8.2), prizes are merged upwards where appropriate (i.e. to the left in the tables above).

Scoring Differing FAI Classes in one Event

It was agreed that combined entrants’ results should be provided to competitors for interest only (i.e. all FAI classes together). When calculating official competition results, round validity, ladder calculations and determining awards, FAI classes should be kept separate. FAI classes should also be kept separate when determining awards.

Action 01.37:     Mike Zupanc to remove paragliders included on the Hang Gliding National Ladder.

3.5.4 Glider Substitution

Section 3.5.4. to be amended to remove “by one of similar or lower performance”; and the last sentence be amended to read: “Other glider changes are allowed for various reasons; only if no advantage is achieved; or provided that the replacement is advised to all pilots at a general briefing and there are no objections.”

3.6.3 & 4   Cloud Flying

A proposal to implement more stringent cloud flying rules was discussed. The rules already state that intentional cloud flying is prohibited.

It was agreed that 3.6.3 should include a clause such as: “Where unintentional cloud flying occurs a pilot may escape penalty by taking Action to negate any advantage that may have been gained.”

It was also agreed that two areas of Section 4 of the Comps Manual need to be amended: to prescribe more specific and mandatory penalties for serious infringements; and to prescribe the process of reporting infringements and applying penalty.

Action 01.38:     Mike Zupanc to draft suggested changes and circulate them for CC consideration.

3.11 Cancellation of a Task

The current task cancellation rules need clarification.

Action 01.39:     Mike Zupanc to amend Section 3.11 to allow a competition director to either cancel or stop a task retrospectively where it becomes apparent that conditions may have been unsafe within the task area. This must occur before round scores become official.

3.13 Track Log Clearing by Slower Pilots

Concern has been expressed that a pilot may clear his track log to gain a points advantage where he has a slow time to goal on a straight line task. Discussion followed into the need for changes to GPS rules to cover this situation; and the situation where a pilot fails to provide a start time for whatever reason.

Action 01.40:     Tim Cummings to redraft Sections 3.13.5, 9.6 and 10.6 to resolve this anomaly.

3.14.8 and 3.14.9   Conflict in wording

Action 01.41:     Mike Zupanc to remove last sentence of 3.14.8

3.16 Emergency Assist Landings

It was agreed that the current system is appropriate.

Process for dealing with a non-HGFA member

Action 01.42:     Mike Zupanc to amend Section 3.4.2 to mandate HGFA membership and include procedures for dealing with pilots unable to provide evidence of membership.

Action 01.43:     Karl Texler to amend Comp Organisers Handbook to mandate HGFA membership and include procedures for dealing with pilots unable to provide evidence of membership.

4.2 Protest review

All protests during the past season competitions were reviewed and no further changes to the rules were deemed necessary.

5 Departure Points

Departure points are seen to be of little consequence. It is seen as desirable to make them more rewarding to pilots leaving early. Tim Cummings provided an explanation of the current system and suggested some options.

Action 01.44:     Tim Cummings to further consider suitable amendments to the departure point rules and circulate to CC members.

6.4 Effect of Validity on “Round by Round” Scoring and Fixed Total Validity Scoring

Action 01.45:     Mike Zupanc to amend Section 6.4 to use “best DQF of either the A grade pilots or all pilots present at the competition”; and the paragliding results will be calculated without including hang gliders present at that competition.

Tim Cummings presented an analysis of his “Fixed Total Validity Scoring” system. It is already being used for weekend competitions in Canungra; and could replace the current system used in the PG Ladder. The system retains day quality factors and by setting a fixed total of  DQFs allows a more accurate measure of each pilot’s performance.

It was proposed that the PG ladder should be calculated using results from rounds where the sum of possible DQFs = at most 8.0; or perhaps 2.0 less than the number of rounds flown in the three major competitions.

Action 01.46:     Tim Cummings and Ian Ladyman to develop an explanation of the system for circulation and consideration for implementation for next season.

“Fixed Total Validity” System in Competition

Following on from the previous discussion, Ian Ladyman proposed that the Fixed Total Validity (FTV) system enabling round results to be dropped based on DQF could be introduced for all competitions, as it already is being used in weekend competitions.

Negatives

The complication of scoring with this system was seen as detrimental.
Pilots would have difficulty understanding the system.

Positives

The system would have all the positives of a round by round system (it would reward racing).
It would mean that the same strategies would need to be applied to win a competition as would be required to win the National Ladder.
Were this system to be implemented, each pilot could use results from rounds where the DQFs total the sum of the competition DQFs minus one.

Examples

If three rounds with DQFs of 1.0 were flown – each pilot could use the results from his or her best 2 rounds.
If the DQF on each of three rounds equalled 0.5 – each pilot could use the result on only their best round; because the competition’s total DQF is 3 x 0.5 = 1.5; and 1.5 –1 = 0.5.
Therefore each pilot can use one round.

10 GPS usage

Check-In software

The benefits and shortcomings of the Check-In software were discussed. Concerns were raised that the software does not display track logs as they are downloaded. This increases the likelihood for error.

Pilot Landing Position

It was agreed that checking each track log individually minimises the likelihood of the wrong landing position being scored.

It was agreed that HGFA purchase of the Check-In software cannot be supported without changes to the software to allow scrutiny of individual track logs as they are downloaded.

Motion 01.6: he HGFA should seek proposals from Tim Cummings and Craig Martinson to develop scoring software to cater for current competition scoring needs. The software should: enable track log scrutinisation during download; have the ability to overlay track logs on a course and/or a map; have the facility to export files to Race; be PC compatible; and have a maintenance contract for future changes or amendments. Additionally, the source code would need to be provided by the contractor if requested.

Moved: Mike Zupanc    Seconded: Karl Texler     Passed.

10.2.3 GPS Goal – speed calculation

Various ways of computing goal arrival times were discussed.

Motion 01.7:     That when determining goal arrival time using GPS, the point at which a pilot enters the goal cylinder is to be interpolated from the last point outside the sector and the first point inside the sector. Two times are to be calculated: one from the speed between these points; and one from the last two points before entering the goal sector. The best time is taken as the goal arrival time.

Moved: Ian Ladyman

Motion failed due to not being seconded. It was not supported as the current approved GPS verification software package already uses a similar calculation.

10.2.1 or 3.13.7? Turnpoint Distance measurement

A minor measurement discrepancy was identified when using turnpoints that are positioned in near to a straight line. It was agreed that the error should be remedied.

Action 01.47:     Tim Cummings to amend the current approved program.

Action 01.48:     Mike Zupanc to remove Section 10.2.1 last sentence and in 10.2 add: “Tasks shall be measured as the shortest possible distance, passing through each of the cylinders in sequence.”