News from IGC Plenary

The IGC Plenary meeting took place in Lausanne (SUI) on 27 – 28 February 2015.  There were 33 countries represented.  As usual, it was an opportunity to renew international friendships as well as to do the business of the Commission.  The social highlight was an elegant dinner on Friday night, generously provided by a retiring member, whose identity was kept secret until the dinner itself.

News

IGC has begun its third formal study of the structure of World and Continental Gliding Championships.  A group has been formed that will make recommendations for the number and frequency of Championships, and the number of Classes supported.  Earliest change to the championships calendar would be in 2020, and the earliest that new class definitions would take effect would be 2021.

At the request of FAI, the sport of Gliding will be represented at the next World Air Games in Dubai (UAE), in December 2015.  This will be particularly challenging for IGC because there are no soaring conditions expected, and the competition area is restricted to a 5 km box!

Loek Boermanns presented his final report as President of OSTIV, the only scientific organization within FAI.  At a special meeting of OSTIV members, Prof. Dr. Ing. Rolf Radespiel was elected as new President of OSTIV.

Badge and Record Rules

The following changes were made to the main section of Sporting Code Section 3:

• Only the Start Line will be used (no more OZ starts).
• Barographs will no longer be used at all.
• The 10 km Turn Point separation rule has been deleted.
• A Silver Distance claim will require a fix at least 50 km from home.
• The World Class record category is replaced by the 13.5 Metre Class record category.

Competition Rules

These changes were made to Sporting Code Section 3, Annex A:

• The Finish must stay open until sunset.
• Club Class handicaps will be adjusted for very lightweight pilots.
• For scoring, the optimum (not necessarily last) Start will be used.
• The distinction between primary and backup Flight Recorder is deleted.

And these proposals will return for voting next year:

• Increased maximum takeoff mass in the 20 Metre Multiseat Class
• Devaluation of “distance” days
• Changes to Team Cup calculation
• Legibility of Contest ID on gliders

Future Competitions

The 2018 World Gliding Championships were awarded to Czech Republic in the Open, 18 Metre and 20 Metre Multiseat Classes; and to Poland in the 15 Metre, Standard, and Club Classes.  There was no discussion of whether this re-grouping of classes will be temporary or permanent.

Awards

Lilienthal Gliding Medal:      Loek Boermanns (NED)

Pirat Gehriger Diploma:       Antonio Martinez-Moneo Rico (ESP)

Pelagia Majewska Medal:   Ritz de Luy (NED)

Elections

President:                        Eric Mozer

First Vice-President:      Brian Spreckley

Vice-Presidents:            Terry Cubley, Christof Geissler, Rene Vidal, Marina Vigorito, Alexander Georgas

Secretary of Honour:     Peter Eriksen

For a complete summary of the voting results, click here.