Schlagwort-Archive: FAI

Aktuelles Sportzeugenschulungs-Video

Bisher haben über 900 Sportzeugen das Schulungs-Video mit Quiz erfolgreich durchlaufen. Nach 2 Jahren ist nun eine aktualisierte Version verfügbar. Die Änderungen:

  • Anpassung an den Sporting Code 2023 (alle Sportzeugen dürfen Flüge für FAI-Rekorde kontrollieren – der Status “Senior OO” wurde abgeschafft).
  • Verbesserte Struktur des Videos
  • Einige zusätzliche Folien aus den Erfahrungen der letzten 2 Jahren
  • Audio neu aufgenommen – bessere Qualität

Das Video ist dadurch ein wenig länger geworden (knapp 29 Minuten). Der Link zum Quiz steht auch in der Videobeschreibung. Sportzeugen, die das bisherige Quiz erfolgreich durchgelaufen haben, MÜSSEN NICHT die neue Version des Videos ansehen & das Quiz neu bestehen. Es wird aber EMPFOHLEN, das neue Video als “Auffrischung” anzusehen.

FAI-Webinar: “Return to Flying After a Pause”

This webinar is designed for pilots of any air sports and skydivers who are eager to resume their activities after a break. Its main objective is to raise awareness about the decline in skills that occurs when individuals take a pause.

Whether your pause in active flight was due to a short pause or vacation, a medical situation, or perhaps a prolonged period, such as pilots and skydivers experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, or even a recurring lull in flying activities during winter months, this webinar will help you return safely and confidently into flying.

Date: Sunday, May 12, 2024
Time: 16:00 UTC

Source and registration: ‘FAI‘.

FAI Sailplane Grandprix in Aalen

Die FAI hat die Termine und Austragungsorte der Series 12 herausgegeben. Einer der nationalen Qualifizierungs Wettbewerbe wird vom 26.5. bis 1.6.2024 in Aalen stattfinden. Die Top Piloten dieser Qualifyings werden dann 2025 beim Finale in St. Auban Frankreich gegeneinander um den Titel World SGP Champion antreten. Anmeldeschluss ist in wenigen Tagen der 15. Februar 2024. Hier geht’s zur Anmeldung.

Countdown to the 37th FAI World Gliding Championships in Narromine

The countdown to WGC 2023 is well and truly underway, with only a matter of weeks to go before teams arrive and competition starts. Formal entries have been flowing in from across the globe, and official team registration is now open. We’re expecting a field of around 70 to 80 pilots across Club, Standard, and 15 Metre Classes, representing 20-plus nations. With such a strong field and a hot, dry summer forecast for Eastern Australia, we can look forward to a spectacular competition!

On-site registration, scrutineering, and unofficial training all kick off in Narromine on 20th November. The first Team Captains’ briefing will be held on 28th November, and official training will be held from 29th November to 1st December, before the Opening Ceremony which will be held on Saturday 2nd December. This should be a fantastic event, with all the national teams parading, VIPs including local, State, and Federal dignitaries as well as Ambassadors and embassy staff in attendance, and plenty of food and entertainment on hand! Contest flying commences on Sunday 3rd December, and runs through to Friday 15th December, with the Closing Ceremony and Prize Giving on Saturday 16th.

Arrangements for the competition are on track, with a highly committed and experienced team of close to 50 volunteers from across Australia and the Czech Republic, working hard to ensure an excellent event. Competition Director Mike Durrant has been guiding the preparation for the contest, including the development of Local Procedures and other key documentation, liaison with the IGC and Team Captains, and working with organising team leaders to plan for the competition. Deputy Competition Director Beryl Hartley has been overseeing all airfield preparation, local arrangements, events, funding, and public relations, ably assisted by Jacob Bloom, Ross McLean, and Sean Young. Jenny Thompson is our very capable Operations Director, supported by Bill Bartlett as Tug Master, and Kerrie Claffey who will lead the marshalling and launch teams. Other key team positions include David Jansen as Task Setter; Neil Campbell as Chief Scorer; Rolf Buelter as Safety Officer; Ed Marel as Meteorologist; Jack Hart, who will lead Scrutineering and Daily Weighing; and Kathy Bell in the Competition Office.

Significant contributions have already been made by other team members, including Jarek Mosiejewski and Alf McMillan who have built a high-quality online registration system for the competition; and David Pickles and Mick Webster, who have led the development of an Emergency Response Plan. We also have volunteers who have come forward to help with all the other roles we need to run the competition, ranging from flight line roles to administrative roles, and we appreciate each and every person’s contribution. The competition simply could not happen without this extraordinary level of volunteer commitment. Several of our volunteers came together in Narromine in mid-September for a site visit, to inspect the airfield and its facilities, and to finalise aspects of operational planning. This was a very successful meeting, and we thank Beryl and Arnie Hartley for arranging the visit and for their great hospitality. Source: ‘Gliding Australia‘.

Organising a world championship with a difference

World championships are, of course, a highlight of the calendar for competitors and their entourage. Still, it is not commonplace to have many visitors from outside the gliding or air sports community. When bidding for the UK to host the 11th FAI Women’s World Gliding Championships, pilot Liz Sparrow and her passionate volunteers wanted to shake things up and use the opportunity to showcase gliding and air sports to a wider audience. Engineer by trade, and top pilot in her spare time, Liz Sparrow would usually be seated firmly in the cockpit at gliding championships. But alongside a group of other motivated members of the UK-based organisation Women Gliding she decided to opt out of competing in the 11th edition of the WWGC and put forward a bid to hold it in Husbands Bosworth, UK, with Liz taking a seat in the director’s chair. Intending to share the experience from the bidding process to finding sponsors and managing media and volunteers, Liz spoke about her thoughts after the event:

Defining the vision
As a founding member of Women Gliding, Liz has long been passionate about getting more women into aviation: “In gliding and I believe in aviation in general, the percentage of women participants is around 7%. We need to address that, so in 2018 we conducted a big survey to find out who female glider pilots are, why they fly, why they don’t fly anymore, and what was putting them off. Using this valuable research, we restructured and rebranded to improve our messaging. There’s so much evidence that proves ‘you have to see it, to be it.’” Liz and the team wanted the event to showcase not just gliding but aviation in general and to encourage families, especially women and girls, to come to the event, as simply getting people to the airfield is the first hurdle. “Gliding is like a gateway drug into aviation!” she jokingly remarks, adding that the team viewed the world championship “almost as a hook, just something on which to hang many other activities and opportunities.”

Their vision was to create an event which brought together a diverse range of exhibits and activities for visitors, including female role models in aviation, real aircraft on display, STEM activity stands, flight simulators and a Sustainable Aviation Show area, as well as music and food!

Laying the foundations: team and bidding process
Even before bidding for the championships, a solid team was already being compiled, which outlined a clear vision for the event and a structure for the organisation. Those involved were experienced in organising larger events, which was integral to the success of the WWGC. There was a core team, each of whom oversaw a smaller committee which focused on an individual part of the project, for example, marketing, STEM etc. Finding valuable contacts was a vital part of the early stages, as the ideas for encouraging members of the public to linger at the airfield were essential to making the potential of the event stand out for those receiving the bids. So what made the Husbands Bosworth bid stand out from the crowd? Liz believes that the early organisation and the wider agenda helped the UK to win.

Sponsorship and Finance
Mindful that cost implications for pilots can lead to fewer registrations, the team wanted to keep fees as low as possible. That meant that the financing of the extra activities had to come from sponsors. Time to make some calls! “It was essential to reach out to both the local community and larger national organisations, and not just in the gliding world. But first, we had to work out exactly what we were offering in return for sponsorship… We knew we couldn’t offer the marketing possibilities that larger internationally televised events can enjoy, but we had something else up our sleeves: people! People who engage in gliding, aviation, in STEM subjects, from an early age make great employees. Youngsters can learn to glide aged 14, and those who are allowed to take responsibility for themselves, and an aircraft, gain awesome life skills. At airfields, they mix with people of all ages, they become part of a team, and they use their brains. We found that companies and organisations wanted to engage with these people and were keen to help us.”

A ’hit list of 5-6 big names was contacted, both corporate and public service. “We tried all sorts of ideas. Some were successful, some not, but when we did get sponsors on board, it became a good partnership with benefits for both sides.” Liz was also approached by local community organisations that wanted to get involved. “The Inner Wheel – like a rotary club but led by women – were a great source of help. One of their members, Suzanne joined the Core Team and led the Events workstream. Inner Wheel was key to networking and building relationships with local government and organisations and recruiting volunteers. They put us in touch with local music groups, caterers and suchlike.” The organisers also contacted the Air League UK and the Department of Transport Aviation Ambassadors (a group of which Liz has been a member) for advice, who put the team in touch with other organisations and people. A key takeaway regarding financial support was that “organisations are keener to offer ‘stuff’ and time rather than financial support, so we made the best possible use of what we were offered!”

Managing volunteers
The whole event was staffed solely by volunteers. But with such a long event, it wasn’t always easy to find people who could help out for the whole duration of the event. Liz notes that “employers often allow their staff to take paid time off for volunteering work as part of their corporate human resources/CSR strategy. We tapped into that and managed to get our volunteer team to use a combination of annual leave plus paid volunteer hours which helped. To recruit the volunteers, each committee used their contacts within the gliding community. One thing Liz notes in hindsight is that “you need more volunteers during the practice week than during the actual competition, as there is still all the setting up to do as well as the flights.”

Using the Media
Liz comments: “We knew media would be hugely important to attract the public, so we devoted a committee to this alone. We prepared a communication schedule to talk about STEM and all the activities and presentations we were offering. We set up the website and social accounts, and with the logo, we used similar styling to Women Gliding to create familiarity and branding.” The team was delighted when photographer and videographer Georgia Schofield from New Zealand – also a glider pilot – contacted them to offer her assistance. “Having Georgia’s input has been amazing; the messaging and the images have just been brilliant. They’re also a great resource for us to use for the future; we can use the photos for various purposes.”

Into the future
After a successful event in which public visitors numbered around 2000, with many families staying to enjoy the festival atmosphere, how can the aviation community learn from the organisation of the WWGC? Liz is due to have a full review of the project with the core team to put together their findings and thoughts on how to build on the success for the future: “We aim to set up some scalable resources: for local clubs to encourage new participants and visitors, as well as for larger events further afield. We have some great contacts and Georgia’s videos that we can take into schools to inspire the next generation of aviators. The organisers of the 12th WWGC in Garray, Spain, visited us, and we will chat with them soon to share our experiences.” In terms of how the actual event ran, Liz is “really pleased. The feedback has been very good. We had good weather for practice, but most of the competition days were very testing, and it was hard work for the task-setting team and challenging for the pilots. But all in all, I’m proud of what we achieved. There was no damage, and the atmosphere was safe and courteous. And we achieved our wider aims of engaging people outside the sport.” And what does the 12th WWGC hold for Liz? “I enjoyed seeing all our hard work and our vision come to life, it’s been brilliant. But in Spain, you will probably see me back in the cockpit!” Source: ‘FAI‘.

New Air Sports Live Tracking App

Two Norwegian air sports pilots have filled a gap in the market by developing an app which helps new pilots to create and practice their own Air Navigation Race (ANR) routes whilst also helping to bring their sport to a wider audience by helping events organisers and offering live streaming to broadcasters.

The new app, called Air Sports Live Tracking, is a user-friendly system which is designed to help less experienced pilots to create their own detailed navigation routes on their smartphones at a very minimal cost. They can also see others’ flights in different locations around the world, as well as follow live competitions and results. The app was also developed to be media-friendly and can link with media production to show live streaming of pilots’ races and thus promote competitive air sports. It can be used in conjunction with Flight Contest, making it easy for organisers and providing an exciting overview for audiences watching from around the world.

It all started with a simple idea
The two developers, who presented their system at the General Aviation Commission Plenary last year, explained that they wanted to create a cheap tracking application that would help them, as pilots, to develop their skills. Financial Consultant Espen Grønstad first dreamed up the project around four years ago, with the simple aim of showing live planes on a map on his smartphone. Joining forces with fellow pilot, Frank Olaf Sem-Jacobsen, maritime surveillance professional with experience in satellites, gave the project wings. The original idea expanded as the pair identified needs and found solutions. The beta 1.0 version was up and running after nine months’ intense work in the pair’s spare time and with the generous support of app developer CreoIT.com. The app is now helping beginners to practice and improve as well as being used in competition for more advanced pilots when preparing for races in a new location.

Helping new pilots access the sport
The app, which is downloadable from app stores, brings together features onto a smartphone that would normally be used on several different devices, which can expensive. Using Google Earth maps, pilots can design their own ANR or precision flying routes, adding obstacles and gate timings to help them beat their own times and also compare themselves to others using these routes. The drag-and-drop functionality makes it very simple to use, and therefore attractive to those who are less experienced in navigation. Pilots can use a real-life map, decide their speed and provisional route and add minute marks and turning points, whether participating in a corridor race, position race, or rally. This means they can arrive at the airfield well prepared and will have less need to rely on others for planning. Another useful feature is that start times are adaptive, ie. commencing at ‘time zero’ meaning that the times for each gate will automatically update once the pilot has started the route.

Helping event organisers
Although the system was designed to comply with FAI rules for the tasks, one obvious challenge for the team was that for larger competitions, smartphones are not permitted during the actual flights. This could easily be overcome by providing pilots with a basic smartphone containing only this app because no further hardware is required. The slight delay from using mobile phone technology is minimal but can be overcome by opting for an artificial delay for races. The app can integrate with the widely-used ‘Flight Contest’ as an add-on, which helps organisers with registration and pilots to manage their crew. Events can also be organised on a small/local scale quite easily, with no logger or extra software required. Organisers can create a competition on the website, with the track, gates, prohibited areas, penalty areas and information boxes. The system generates a flight order automatically, including maps and images. The pilot simply needs to download the app, print the flight order, and take off.

Media-friendly live stream
On this shared platform, users can also view live scoring and follow the other pilots, something that has been used with success by the NRK, the Norwegian National Television Company, who used pilots’ live-stream video feed in the 2020 Norwegian Championship in Precision Flying, hosted by the Norwegian Air Sports Federation (NLF) to transmit live pilot tracking to viewers. This was the first time that the Norwegian television company had followed the full length of an air sports competition, and unsurprisingly, Grønstad and Sem-Jacobsen are excited about the possibility of bringing their beloved sport to a wider audience, commenting: “The sport has to develop to get new people involved.” Inspired by other televised sporting competitions such as skiing, they realise that TV has changed the sport, with media needs to change the way contests are run and shown to a live and television audience. With the app’s live stream, the timing gates can be shown with the results panel displaying whether the current pilot is ahead or behind the leader. This makes for a more exciting televised race which is great news for broadcasters. The ‘danger zones’ in a rally can also be viewed live, including the penalties.

Creative possibilities
Designed as a modular system, Air Sports Live Tracking can work alongside other systems allowing event organisers and broadcasters to be creative with the way the app is used. The app integrates with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 which allows pilots to fly together ‘live’ from across the globe. Grønstad remarks that this is particularly useful in Norway during the winter when real flight conditions are limited! Another interesting concept could be virtual global competitions, either alongside live events or even as a stand-alone idea. Source: ‘FAI‘.

Fayence-Andorra-Matterhorn

Baptiste Innocent fliegt am 9. Juni bei einer Nordwestlage ab dem Startort im Südfranzösischen Fayence via die Lure- und Ventoux-Welle über das Rhonetal, kann nach einem Tiefpunkt in der Region Béziers über den Hügeln des Haut-Languedoc genug Höhe aufbauem, um die Pyrenäen zu erreichen. Nach der ersten Wende südlich von Andorra schleicht sich Baptiste via die Cevennen-Wellen-Systeme zurück über das Rhonetal, um bei Aubenasson nahe am Gelände auf gerade noch 700 m ü.M. den Anschluss in die Voralpen zu erreichen. Die Puc-de-Bure-Welle und die Wellensystem südlich des Modane-Tales (Susa) lassen ihn komfortabel in grosser Höhe nordostwärts zum Matterhorn gleiten. Der Rückweg führt die gleiche Strecke zurück. Nach Hause bringt Baptiste der Pic de Bure, wo er letztmals die maximal zulässige Höhe in Frankreich von 6’000 m ü.M. erreicht. Herzliche Gratulation zu diesem 1’500-km-Rekordflug! Quelle: ‘WeGlide‘.

Innovatives Alpen-Dreieck

Baptiste Innocent fliegt am 19. April 2022 ab dem südfranzösischen Fayence ein Dreieck von 828 km, 745 km FAI mit den Wendepunkten Interlaken und Glandasse. Was im Umkehrschluss bedeuten würde, dass man sich als (besonders) talentierter Segelflug-Pilot die Urlaube in Südfrankreich sparen kann, schliesslich fliegen nun die Franzosen zu uns Nordeuropäern in den Segelflugurlaub. Gratulation zum tollen Flug, Baptiste!

Online-Ausbildung für Sportzeugen

Wer Rekorde anerkannt oder ein internationales Segelflugleistungsabzeichen erwerben möchte, braucht für den Nachweis der Flugleistung einen Sportzeugen. Die Vorgaben für die Dokumentation hat die International Gliding Commission (IGC) im Sporting-Code festgelegt. Sportzeuge kann sein, wer sich dafür qualifiziert und ein Sportzeugenausweis erworben hat. Die Bundeskommission bietet nun ein einfaches, modernes Verfahren dafür an.

Der Erwerb des Sportzeugenausweises ist online möglich. Dafür werden die Kandidaten per Video geschult und weisen in einem Quiz ihr Wissen nach. Statt wie früher eine mindestens vierstündige Präsenzschulung zu absolvieren, dauert nun die Schulung per Video nur 25 Minuten, das anschließende Quiz als Prüfung ist in zehn Minuten zu schaffen.

Diese Schulung mit Quiz eignet sich sowohl für den Ersterwerb als auch für die Verlängerung der Lizenz. Beim Quiz muss der Kandidat mindestens 20 der 22 möglichen Punkte erreichen. Wer beim ersten Anlauf diese Punktzahl nicht schafft, kann das Quiz nochmals durchlaufen. Die Auswertungen des Quizes werden in monatlichen Abständen erfolgen. Bis zur Ausstellung der Sportzeugenausweises kann es vier Wochen dauern, deshalb bitte rechtzeitig diese Schulung inkl. Quiz absolvieren.
Bitte beachten: Fluglehrer sind nicht automatisch Sportzeuge. Schulung und Quiz sind Voraussetzung für die Beantragung bzw. die Verlängerung des Ausweises. Der Sporting Code Annex C empfiehlt, dass neue Sportzeugen entweder mindestens das Leistungsabzeichen in Silber oder sich “für eine gewisse Mindestzeit” mit dem Sport beschäftigen haben. Die Fluglehrerlizenz ist keine Voraussetzung (war es auch nie). Alle Sportzeugen müssen bis zum 31. März 2023 diese Fortbildung durchlaufen. Die alten Nummern verlieren bei Neuvergabe ihre Gültigkeit, spätestens aber zu diesem Termin. Die Vergabe der neuen Sportzeugenlizenzen erfolgen zentral durch die Geschäftsstelle Bundeskommission Segelflug im DAeC und wird auf seiner Homepage segelflug.aero und im Onlineportal COPILOT veröffentlicht. Quelle: ‘Youtube’ / ‘Bundeskommission Segelflug‘.

Australian pilots disqualified

Lake Keepit in northern New South Wales hosted the 10th Women’s World Championships in the period 3-17 January 2020. A total of 45 pilots from 10 countries participated in the club, standard and 18-meter classes. The Australian Women’s World Cup was surrounded by controversy over the Australian team’s use of live tracking. Now the international tribunal – led by Swedish Reno Filla – has handed down its verdict in the case. All Australian pilots have been completely disqualified. The tribunal considers their competition results during the Women’s World Cup to be invalid because they were obtained under conditions that were not fair. It was decided to give a minus of 225 points to all Australian pilots for the 9-day flight. A decision that had dramatic results for the Australian participants. Jo Davis was reduced from 1st to 4th place in the club class, and Lisa Trotter lost 3rd place in the Standard class. Now the international tribunal – led by Swedish Reno Filla – has handed down its verdict in the case. All Australian pilots have been completely disqualified. The tribunal considers their competition results during the Women’s World Cup to be invalid because they were obtained under conditions that were not fair. During the process, the National Australian Aeroclub has complained about the 225-point reduction, while Germany and England have coordinated a unanimous appeal to disqualify all Australian pilots and declare their results in the Women’s World Cup invalid. The tribunal considers having access to live tracking data to be unsportsmanlike and against fair play rules, and the Australian pilots are criticized by the tribunal for not reporting these irregularities to the competition management. However, the tribunal does not recommend FAI punish the pilots individually. On the other hand, the tribunal considers it appropriate for the FAI to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Australian Team Captain Terry Cubley and Team Coach Matthew Gage for breach of 1.12.5 of the FAI Rules. When the Australian pilots were penalized with a minus of 225 points, none of them got medals. Thus, the current disqualification of the tribunal does not lead to any redistribution of the medals. Source: ‘Nordic Gliding’.

FAI-Dreieck über Pyrenäen und Zentralmassiv

Gil Souviron schreibt zu seinem Flug von Freitag, 3.12.2021: “Diesen Flug hatte ich schon seit drei Jahren im Kopf: Über den Pyrenäen und dem Zentralmassiv ein FAI-Dreieck zu fliegen. Mit meinem Freund Baptiste Innocent ist heute ein 1’000-km-FAI-Dreieck gelungen. Es war nicht einfach, da die Tage nun sehr kurz sind und wir nördlich des Mont Aigual auf eine Maximalhöhe von FL 120 begrenzt waren. Das Erstaunlichste ist, dass eine neue Zone südlich des Monte Peridido verboten zu sein scheint! Wie auch immer, wir haben es geschafft”! Quelle: ‘OLC‘.

Gil Souviron: 1’500-km-Flight

As I targeted to make a 1500 KM for FAI Badge, I didn’t want to lose time so I flew with engine direct at the start gate at 4500 meters over the sea, because the waves were scheduled weak over the Alberes. Finally, the lift was very good so I didn’t lose time. The weather was good, a little bit tricky in the middle of the Pyrenees with Waves like thin spot and no continuation. Difficult to go fast but the Pyrenees are so generous. Source: ‘OLC, online Contest‘.

Smartflyer aircraft awarded the InnoPrix SoBa 2020

On 23 November 2020, smartflyer Ltd. received the InnoPrix of the Swiss “Baloise Bank SoBa Solothurn” for the development of its innovative aircraft project. The award ceremony was broadcast live on radio and TV from a hangar at Grenchen Airport (SUI).
Flights up to 750km will soon become reality Smartflyer Ltd. is not only known for its European electrifly-In (originally smartflyerchallenge) but also for its ground-breaking aircraft – the smartflyer SFX1, a four-seated hybrid-electric aircraft which emits less CO2, is up to 30% more efficient, has lower noise emissions and less operating costs. A range extender drives a generator charging the batteries. Flights with a range up to 750 km will soon be in reach. This aircraft has already garnered a lot of international attention. The first flight of smartflyer SFX1 is planned for 2023.

Innovative projects
Innovative projects and ideas for more ecological and sustainable aviation are of great importance today. Therefore, the FAI Amateur-Built and Experimental Aircraft Commission (CIACA) is looking for similar projects like smartflyer, which are covering our targets; new technologies, new power sources, sustainability & ecology, to support and honor the innovators with awards. There are a lot of good achievements, which should be awarded. FAI CIACA is curiously waiting to hear from and present new projects. Quelle: ‘FAI‘.

David Monks neuer FAI-Präsident

Die Generalversammlung der Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) hat David Monks zum neuen Präsidenten gewählt. Der 53-jährige Brite wird sein neues Amt für die kommenden zwei Jahre ausüben. Die Wahl fand im Rahmen der 114. FAI General Conference statt, die vom 2. bis 15. Dezember digital abgehalten wurde. Monks folgt auf Bob Henderson, der dem Weltverband des Luftsports zwei Jahre als Präsident vorgestanden hatte. David Monks ist von Haus aus Elektroningenieur und wurde mit dem „Aviation Bug“ Mitte der 1990er Jahre infiziert, als er das Hubschrauberfliegen lernte. Der 53-Jährige ist seitdem aktives Mitglied verschiedener europäischer Luftsportorganisationen. Zum Zeitpunkt der Wahl war Monks bereits Vorsitzender des Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom und des Helicopter Club of Great Britain. Mit den Abläufen der FAI ist der neue Präsident bereits vertraut, schließlich gehört er dort seit 2009 der Rotorcraft Commission und der Air Sport General Commission an.

„Ich bin sehr erfreut über die Wahl und dass mir ein frisch gewählter Vorstand zur Seite steht. Wir werden alles darauf verwenden, um die Vision einer FAI, wie wir sie uns vorstellen, zu verwirklichen – besonders im Angesicht der aktuellen Herausforderungen“, versprach der neue Präsident. Ebenfalls zum Gremium gehört DAeC-Präsident Stefan Klett, der erneut zum Vizepräsidenten berufen wurde. Klett vertritt im Weltluftsportverband die Interessen der deutschen Luftsportler. Das Amt des DAeC-Präsidenten füllt Klett seit April 2018 aus. Traditionell im Herbst treffen sich die Präsidenten der mehr als 100 nationalen Aeroclubs zur FAI-Generalkonferenz. Die Mitgliederkonferenz 2020 sollte in Wuhan, China stattfinden, aufgrund der Corona-Pandemie wurde die Versammlung digital abgehalten. Quelle: ‘DAeC‘.

1000-km-Dreieck in Mistral und Thermik

Gilles Navas hat eine erneute kreative Streckenflug-Marke gesetzt. Am 4. August flog er über Südfrankreich ein 1’000-km-Dreieck mit Wendepunkten in der Region Narbonne, westlich von Vichy im Zentralmassiv und im Allos-Tal. Die Innovation ist die frühemorgendliche Nutzung des noch aktiven Mistrals über dem Mont Ventoux und den Cevennen, um später thermisch das Zentralmassiv auf der Ostseite zu umfliegen, das Rhonetal ein zweites Mal eine Etage tiefer erneut zu queren, um den letzten Wendepunkt in den südöstlichen Voralpen zu erreichen.

FAI: vorerst keine World Air Games mehr

Die World Air Games 2022 werden nicht stattfinden. Aufgrund der wirtschaftlichen Situation des Landes hatte der nationale Türkische Luftsportverband (THK) die Fédération Aéronautique (FAU) darum gebeten, die Spiele erst 2025 dort auszutragen. Heute sagte der FAI Vorstand die World Air Games auf unbestimmte Zeit ab, weil Konzept und Format erst noch überarbeitet werden sollen. FAI Präsident Bob Henderson hierzu: „Das war sicherlich keine leichte Entscheidung. Wir haben alle Interessen berücksichtigt und gehen mit einem strategischen und langfristigen Ansatz an die Sache heran. Da die World Air Games das Flaggschiff unseres Verbandes sind, müssen wir sicherstellen, dass diese unter optimalen Bedingungen stattfinden. Die FAI wird diese Gelegenheit nutzen, um die Zukunft der World Air Games intern zu diskutieren und dabei alle Interessengruppen innerhalb des Verbandes zu berücksichtigen.“ Quelle: ‘DAeC‘. Video von den WAG 2015 in Dubai.

FAI: Haggeney folgt auf Schödel

Die Luftsportorganisation Fédération Aéronautique Internationale hat Markus Haggeney zum neuen Generalsekretär benannt. Der 59-Jährige folgt auf Susanne Schödel, die das Amt in den vergangenen sechs Jahren ausfüllte. Zuvor versah Haggeney die Position des Sport und Event Directors. FAI Präsident Bob Henderson dankte Schödel für ihren Einsatz. „Ich bin dankbar, dass sich Markus Haggeney bereit erklärt hat, diese neue Herausforderung anzunehmen“, so Henderson weiter. Haggeney gehört der FAI seit sechs Jahren an und kennt alle Prozesse und Aktivitäten der Luftsportorganisation. Privat zeichnet sich der 59-Jährige durch seine Begeisterung für Ballonfahren und Paragliding aus.

FAI vergibt Awards

Die Leistungen von Athleten und Piloten aus der ganzen Welt des Luftsports wurden anlässlich der 112. FAI-General-Konferenz in Luxor gewürdigt. Für FAI-Präsident Frits Brink ist die jährliche FAI-Verleihung eine Gelegenheit, jene zu ehren, die in den letzten 12 Monaten am meisten für die Förderung von Luftfahrt, Raumfahrt und Luftsport getan haben. “Ich freue mich, hier zu sein, um die diesjährigen Auszeichnungen für diese inspirierenden Persönlichkeiten zu vergeben.” Insgesamt 17 Preisträger, darunter Hermann Trimmel und Klaus Ohlmann, waren bei der Zeremonie anwesend. Quelle: FAI.

Alpenklassiker im Nordwestwind – ein Bein 0.2% zu kurz

Montag, 22. Mai 2017 – Tour zu den schönsten Alpengipfeln.

Das Matterhorn, fotografiert aus einem starken Aufwind direkt über dem ‘falschen’ Wendeort Gornergrat.

Die Segelflug-Reise zum Ortler und ans Matterhorn ist einer meiner bevorzugten Alpenflüge. Diesmal habe ich es bei der Flugeingabe etwas zu eilig und plaziere einen der Wendepunkte für ein aritmethisch sauber gerechnetes 28%-FAI-Dreieck eine Spur daneben. Eigentlich müsst man ja nur den Wendepunkt in die FAI-Flächen legen – wenn man sie denn auf dem PC-Display erkennen kann. Das ist aber auch weiterhum das einzige ‘Problem’. Sonst gehts wirklich nur um’s fliegen. Endlich habe ich mich einmal von meinen elend langsamen Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeiten ein wenig gelöst. Das nächste Mal versuche ich, den Flug einmal im dreistelligen Bereich zu umrunden. Also nicht weiter oder länger, sondern etwas schneller!

Der Nationalpark am Ofenpass präsentiert sich heute in traumhafter segelfliegerischer Optik. Der Ortler ist am rechten Bildrand an seiner Schneekuppe zu erkennen.

Heraus gekommen ist an diesem Tag ein herrlicher Flug über einer schneereichen Frühlingslandschaft. Im Wallis häckselt ein zackiger Nordwest alle Aufwinde quer durch. Damit mache ich in den Matter Tälern seltsame Erfahrungen. Die steilen Klüfte sind an diesem Nachmittag alle ungewohnt parallel angeströmt. Gut, ist da etwas Wasser in den Flächen, die Schüttlerei fühlt sich an wie ein Föhnflug. ‘Cinqueächzt und giiret jedenfalls durch alle Böen. Im nächsten Winter muss ich wohl bei der Liegewanne einmal einen Ölwechsel machen.

Einmal mehr fühle ich mich auf dem entspannten Heimweg glücklich und privilegiert wie ein Schneekönig. Was für ein tolles Erlebnis, diese beiden wunderschönen und doch gegensätzlichen Alpengipfel – der eine ein über und über mit Schnee und Gletschern bedeckter Kalkhaufen, der andere ein richtiger Walliser Granitzacken, an dem ausser ein paar dünnen Eisfeldern nichts kleben bleiben kann – an einem Nachmittag anzufliegen.

Den letzten Aufwind kann ich im Binntal (jaa… ich glaube es selber noch nicht so richtig) bis auf 3’800 m.ü.M. hinauf ausdrehen – und damit ohne irgendeine Unterbrechung – wie etwa der doofen Kreiserei in einem Aufwind – dem Strich nach zurück nach Hause pfeifen. Haah, soguet – und das erst noch alles mit McCready >2.5 oder einem Reiseflug-Speed von mehr als 140 km/h. Unglaublich, wie agil sich ‘Cinque’ im hohen Alter bewegt 🙂

Hier sind alle Flugdetails von Rainer Roses Online Contest.