Event info Introduction | General information | Entry requirements | Competition schedule | Paraglider classes and classification | Competition officials | Flying and safety regulations | Altitude limits | Briefings | Start of a task | Communication and external aid | Landing | Assistance to a pilot in danger | Validation of a task and the competition | Task evidence | Penalties | Complaints and protests | Scoring and results | Prizes
1.1.Polish Paragliding Open competition is run according to the FAI Sporting Code. It is a pilot's responsibility to be aware of the rules in General Section and Section 7B (S7B) of the FAI Sporting Code (www.fai.org/documents/sportingcode) and abide them. References to Section 7B refer to the edition dated 1st May 2008.These additions supersede Section 7B.
1.2.The competition is open to all pilots with a valid FAI licence.
1.3.All competing pilots fly under their own responsibility and it's their responsibility to take all necessary actions to maintain their own safety during the competition.
1.4.All pilots must be aware of the Local Regulations and abide them.
1.5.The organizer shall provide a safe and fair contest.
2.1.The purpose of the competition is to provide good and satisfying contest flying in order to determine the winners in each class and to reinforce friendship amongst pilots and nations. The event is for pilots interested in competing and improving their skills at paragliding.
2.2.The Headquarters is located in Sopot, Bulgaria, next to the bottom station of the SkyLift chair lift. Competition site is part of the Stara Planina massif.
2.3.The competition will be run from 1st to 7th August 2009.
2.4.The maximum number of entries is 150. 12 spots are reserved for the Polish National Team members. Further 58 spots are reserved for Polish pilots. After 1st July 2009 all remaining spots will be available to all pilots.
3.1.Every pilot who wants to take part in the competition must complete the online entry form.
3.2.The entry fee is 120 Euro until 1st July 2009. After that date the entry fee is 130 Euro.
3.3.Every pilot must register personally. The registration will take place on 1st August from 14:00 to 20:00 and on 2nd August from 8:00 to 9:00.
3.4.At registration pilots must present the following documents:
- valid FAI sporting licence
- IPPI card At level 4 or 5
- proof of third party insurance - in English
- proof of medical insurance (including rescue action) - in English
Without these documents the pilot will not be permitted to compete.
3.5.A competing pilot must be equipped with a fully operational paraglider, harness with back protection, helmet, reserve parachute and radio. All of the above mentioned equipment is provided by the pilots themselves.
3.6.Open class gliders, without any certification, are permitted only with the relevant documentation, as stated in S7B 12.1.1.
3.7.The organizers reserve the right to refuse entry to any pilot.
3.8.Registration will be deemed complete only after completing the entry form and paying the entry fee.
3.9.Registration annulment
Every pilot can annul their registration. If the pilot withdraws from the competition two (2) weeks before it starts, the pilot will receive the entry fee back, reduced by 30%. If that time is shorter, the entry fee will be refunded only in case if another pilot takes over the spot.
| Date | Time | |
| 01.08.2009 | 10:00 | Official training day |
| 01.08.2009 | 14:00 - 20:00 | Registration |
| 01.08.2009 | 20:30 | Obligatory briefing for Polish pilots |
| 02.08.2009 | 8:00 - 9:00 | Registration |
| 02.08.2009 | 9:00 | Obligatory safety briefing |
| 02.08.2009 | 10:00 | Transportation to the take-off, first task |
| 03.08 - 07.08 | 10:00 | Transportation to the take-off, contest days |
| 07.08.2009 | 19:00 | Unofficial results publication |
| 07.08.2009 | 20:00 | Protest deadline |
| 07.08.2009 | 21:00 | Prize-giving ceremony |
4.1. The above schedule may change during the competition. All changes will be displayed on information boards and/or announced at briefings.
5. Paraglider classes and classification
5.1.Pilots will be classified in the following classes:
- Sports Class - is for any glider up to LTF (DHV) 2, Afnor Standard or CEN C;
- Serial Class - is for any glider up to LTF (DHV) 2-3, Afnor Performance or CEN D;
- Open Class - is for all gliders;
- Female Class
- Team Class
5.2.Additionally, Polish pilots will be classified in the following classes: open, female, team.
5.3.Teams are made up of up to 5 pilots.
5.4.The best 3 pilots from each team score for each task.
5.5.Dual gliders may be allowed at the discretion of the Meet Director.
5.6.Changes to gliders
5.6.1. A glider cannot be changed in any way in its configuration throughout the entire competition. A certified glider that has been changed in its configuration in comparison with the manufacturer's specifications is considered as a prototype and must comply with the rules in S7B 2.11.1.3.
5.6.2. Any pilot who replaces the glider during the competition without asking the Meet Director for permission will be disqualified from the event.
5.6.3. Any major damage to a glider shall be reported to the Meet Director without delay and the glider may then be repaired. Any replacement parts must conform exactly to the original specifications.
5.6.4. A glider may be checked by the organizer at any time throughout the competition.
6.1.General Organizer:
is responsible for the general organization of the event and is supported by the assistant, technical advisor and others.
6.2.Meet Director:
holds briefings and is responsible for the sporting side of the event. The MD is supported by the assistant, launch marshal and others.
6.3.Judge:
observes the rules and investigates complaints.
7.1.Before the first task the following committees will be elected:
7.1.1. Task Committee, consisting of:
- one person nominated by the Meet Director;
- 2 competitors elected by all participants from a list of candidates proposed by the Meet Director
The Task Committee is an advisory body for the Meet Director.
7.1.2. Safety Committee, consisting of 3 pilots nominated by the Meet Director.
7.1.3. Protest Committee, consisting of 3 pilots of different nationality, elected by all participants from a list of candidates proposed by the Meet Director. If one of the members of the committee is involved in a protest, they must be substituted at the discretion of the Meet Director. Committee's decisions are final.
8. Flying and safety regulations
8.1.All pilots must read and abide safety rules as in Section 7B of the FAI Sporting Code, particularly in Chapter 17.
8.2.Each pilot is required to conform to the aviation law and rules of the country in which the competition takes place.
8.3.Each day the Meet Director will confirm the turning direction within a given area and/or time.
8.4.A pilot witnessing any situation which might influence the safety of the competition must try to inform the organizer and the competing pilots.
8.5.All manoeuvres which might endanger the safety of others are strictly forbidden. Aerobatics, dangerous flying conduct, infringement of rules and unsporting behaviour will be penalised and may cause disqualification.
8.6.A pilot may not fly unless he/she is fit. Any injury, drugs or medication taken which might affect the competitor's performance in the air, must be reported to the Meet Director before flying.
8.7.It is strictly forbidden to fly under influence of alcohol or other drugs. A pilot must undergo an anti-doping control at a request of the Meet Director.
8.8.At any time the organizer can stop a task in case of hazardous conditions.
8.9.The Meet Director has the right to ban all flying on a day when the task was cancelled.
8.10. If any pilot fails to report within the report deadline time, the organizer will start a rescue action..
8.11. In case a pilot fails to inform the organizer about a safe landing, he/she will have to cover the costs of the rescue action.
8.12. All pilots must pack their gliders immediately after landing: a glider lying open on the ground means "I need help!"
8.13. Rescue action and medical costs will be covered by the pilot and their insurance.
9.1.In the competition flying area there is altitude limit of 2900 m asl.
9.2.All pilots are responsible for abiding that limit and there will be no exceptions.
9.3.Flight altitude will be checked at the GPS download.
10.1. All information concerning the competition and tasks will be announced at briefings and/or displayed on the official information board.
10.2. Types of briefing
10.2.1. General briefing
All competitors must be present at the general briefing that takes place at the request of the organizer. There will also be a compulsory briefing for all Polish pilots.
10.2.2. Task briefing - held at the take-off in the presence of all pilots.
10.3. It's the pilots responsibility to remain informed through the briefing or by consulting the official task board.
10.4. All technical data specified during the task briefing will be put on the task board. The window can be open a minimum of 20 minutes after the end of the task briefing.
10.5. All briefings will be conducted first in English, than in Polish language.
10.6. After the end of a task briefing, all pilots who wish to fly on that day must sign the Sign-to-Fly list, confirming that they were present at the briefing and understood it. a pilot who doesn't sign the list cannot fly the task.
11.1. Launching is allowed only during the window open period.
11.2. The take-off areas will be defined by the Launch Marshall at the task briefing.
11.3. At sites not large enough for all the competitors an ordered launch method may be used. The top 10 pilots of overall Open event ranking, the top 5 women and the top 5 pilots of overall Polish ranking have the right to take precedence over other pilots in the takeoff area whenever they choose, before doing so they must ask for permission the Launch Marshall.
11.4. The Meet Director or the Launch Marshall may temporarily close the window if conditions become dangerous. The window will be extended by the time the take-off was closed, without, however, exceeding the deadline for window extension.
11.5. Each individual pilot is responsible for their own decision to take off.
11.6. In the case of a major problem forcing re-landing immediately after launching, a pilot may take off again after gaining permission from the Launch Marshall. The pilot's take-off time remains, in any case, the one of the earliest start.
12. Communication and external aid
12.1. All pilots should be equipped with a 2m radio and a mobile phone.
12.2. All other equipment that might increase pilot's safety is also recommended.
12.3. The organizer will announce an official safety frequency, which all pilots must listen to throughout the task. On this frequency communication is only allowed if concerning safety issues.
12.4. The organizer will also announce a retrieval frequency.
12.5. All pilots must inform the organizer via their means of communication about any issue concerning safety, including consequences of landing away from the designated goal of other pilots.
12.6. Tasks should be played among individual pilots, without any external aid.
12.7. Any help in navigation or thermal location by any non-competing aircraft, including competing gliders not in the act of carrying out the task is prohibited.
13.1. The latest time for landing at goal will be announced at the task briefing. Pilots who land in goal after the deadline will not score time points.
13.2. At the task briefing the Meet Director may also announce a landing deadline when all pilots must have landed. If a safe landing area cannot be reached at that time the pilot is allowed to land as soon as possible.
13.3. A pilot must report back as soon as possible after landing. The procedure for this will be announced at the safety briefing. The latest time for report back will be announced at the task briefing.
13.4. Checking-in is mandatory for all pilots who signed to start the task. Each pilot must give in their GPS.
14. Assistance to a pilot In danger
14.1. A pilot witnessing any kind of accident or receiving a help call must try to inform the organizer or other people as soon as possible, giving the nature and location of the accident and description of the pilot/glider in trouble.
14.2. During the rescue action all pilots shall remain only the necessary communication on the radio.
14.3. A pilot who lands or limits his flight to assist another pilot in distress will be compensated task points. The compensation will be decided on by the Meet Director and the Judge.
15. Validation of a task and the competition
15.1. A task is valid only if at least 20% of competing pilots fly beyond the minimum distance.
15.2. The launch window must be open for the minimum time giving every pilot at least 2 minutes to take off.
15.3. Stopping of a task
The Meet Director can stop a task in case of hazardous weather or other conditions which could endanger the safety of pilots. Stopping of a task is announced on the safety frequency. After a task is stopped, all pilots should head for a safe landing. If the task is a Race to Goal and one or more pilots have reached goal or one or more pilots flew the nominal distance at the time the task was stopped, the task is scored. If not the task is cancelled with no score.
15.4. Cancellation of a task
After the last landing time a task can only be cancelled by a safety committee decision.
15.5. The competition is valid if there is at least one valid task.
16.1. The only means of flight verification is a GPS with a 3D track-log. The organizer will provide interface for the most common GPS models.
16.2. The list of accepted GPS models will be published on the competition web site. Any model not listed there may be allowed in the competition at the discretion of the Meet Director.
16.3. Pilots must prepare the GPS before the flight:
- switch on the track-log recording;
- set up the track-log interval at 1-30 seconds;
- delete all previous track-logs.
16.4. To be considered as valid, the track-log must comply with rules in S7B Chapter 16 and, in particular, the track-log must show at least 2 minutes of data prior to and after:
- start,
- turn-points,
- goal or landing.
16.5. The GPS might be switched off during the flight, under the condition, that the track-log complies with rules in 14.4 and the first 30 minutes of flight are recorded. A single gap cannot be longer than 30 minutes or 20 km.
16.6. After landing the GPS must be switched off (or the track-log recording) and not switched on until it is presented for the download.
16.7. Each pilot must present their GPS for track-log downloading and at a request of the Meet Director anytime during the competition. Changing or deleting data before presenting it for downloading is prohibited.
17.1. For infringements of or non-compliance with the Local Regulations or the FAI Sporting Code a pilot may be penalised. Each time the penalty is imposed by the Meet Director based on the Judge's decision, except the penalties stated in S7B 5.6.3, which will be applied accordingly.
17.2. The penalty for exceeding altitude limits will be applied according to the current S7B rules (2.28.2).
17.3. If a task is cancelled, the penalty will be decided by the Meet Director, basing on the Judge's opinion and the current S7B rules.
17.4. If for any reason a pilot's score, including penalties, is negative, the score for the task will be zero.
18.1. Complaints and protest must be made in writing and delivered to the competition HQ. They shall refer to specific rules in the Local Regulations and/or FAI Sporting Code.
18.2. The time limit of a complaint is 1 hour 30 minutes after the publication of the provisional task results, except after the last task, in which case the time limit is 30 minutes.
18.3. If the pilot is not satisfied with the outcome, he/she may make a protest. The time limit of a complaint is 2 hours after announcement of the decision regarding the complaint, except after the last task, in which case the time limit is 30 minutes.
18.4. The protest fee is 20 Euro, which will be refunded if the protest is upheld.
18.5. Complaints are dealt with by the Judge and protest are dealt with by the Protest Committee.
19.1. Tasks will be scored using the GAP 2007 formula. GAP parameters will be announced before the first task and will remained unchanged until the end of the competition.
19.2. The results will be displayed on the information board as soon as possible after downloading all track-logs.
19.3. After the end of the competition the results will be sent to CIVL for inclusion in the WPRS.
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
20.1. Polish Open:
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in Sports class,
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in Serial class,
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in Open class,
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in Female Open class,
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in Team class,
20.2. Polish pilots:
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in Open class
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in Female Open class
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in Team class
20.3. Disabled pilots:
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place
