Niviuk Fly Wide Open
Krusevo, North Macedonia v1.0
These rules are subject to amendment or alteration at any time prior to the competition start
INTRODUCTION
The Niviuk Fly Wide Open will be run according to the FAI Sporting Code.
The Niviuk Fly Wide Open is a fun competition, designed to introduce pilots to the philosophy of how a competition is run under FAI rules. Whilst the emphasis will be on fun, there are certain rules that cannot be avoided to ensure the competition is FAI compliant and run in a manner that is a fair representation of an FAI event.
SAFE FLYING:
All pilots fly under their own responsibility. They are ‘Pilot in Command’. It is each pilot’s responsibility to take all necessary actions to maintain their own safety during the competition, and to ensure that they do not act in any way that might endanger any other pilots during the competition. It is a condition of entry to the Niviuk Fly Wide Open competition for all pilots to accept without restriction that they do not hold the Organizers responsible and that they waive all claims to compensation.
SPORTSMANSHIP:
The purpose of the Niviuk Fly Wide Open competition is to provide a sporting, fair, competitive and safe contest, in order to determine the event winner and to learn together while reinforcing friendship among competitors and other pilots from around the world.
1 SPORTING BEHAVIOUR
1.1 BEHAVIOUR
Competitors not behaving in a safe and sporting manner will be penalized and may be disqualified.
1.2 ABUSE
Any verbal or physical abuse of any of the competition officials is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and will be treated as such in accordance with the FAI Code of Ethics.
2 EVENT
2.1 NUMBER OF TASKS
The Niviuk Fly Wide Open will be valid if two or more tasks are flown during the competition.
2.2 DURATION
The Niviuk Fly Wide Open will be held over seven days (Sunday – Saturday), although not all days are necessarily task scoring days. They may instead be classified as practice days and therefore non-scoring.
2.3 TIMINGS
- Tasks will run from Sunday closest to the published start date of the event to the following Saturday.
- Registration will take place on Saturday closest to the published start date of the event.
- No registration will take place on, or after, competition start.
- The first task will normally be a practice task, and run on Sunday closest to the publishes start date of the event. However this task is not obligatory and shall be cancelled at the discretion of the Meet Director.
- If fewer than two further tasks are possible then the scores of the practice task maybe used to ensure that two scoring tasks are available.
- The prize-giving ceremony will normally be on the final Saturday evening of the event.
- The last day (Saturday) is a full competition day and a task will be set if conditions allow for it.
2.4 NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
The maximum number of pilots participating in any round is set at the Meet Director’s discretion but will not exceed 130 (including all non-scoring pilots). Pilots who will arrive late for registration should contact the organization to ensure that their place remains available. Pilots who fail to advise of late arrival and fail to register before the start of the competition can be replaced by late-entry pilots meeting the Participant requirements below if they attended, or can evidence having seen, the event Safety Briefing.
2.5 LOCAL REGULATIONS
Additional local regulations may be prepared by the Meet Director & the organization as deemed necessary.
3 PILOT QUALIFICATION
3.1 ENTRY STANDARDS
A competing pilot must be qualified to meet the standards of IPPI4 or their National equivalent.
3.2 OPEN PILOTS
For entry into the The Niviuk Fly Wide Open, pilots will self-certify that they hold a valid FAI sporting license + IPPI card level 4 or 5 (or equivalent national license recognised by the FAI).
3.3 RIGHT TO REFUSE ENTRY
The organizers reserve the right to refuse entry to any pilot.
4 INSURANCE
All participants must hold valid medical health care insurance in consideration of all potential hospital, rescue and repatriation expenses as well holding third party liability insurance with an insured limit of at least 750.000€ (or foreign currency equivalent).
A statement from the pilot’s insurance company, in English language, must be available to be shown at registration on request, proving that the pilot has met the insurance requirements and all pilots must priovide a 7 day, 24-hour contact number in case of accident.
If insurance details cannot be made available the pilot may lose his/her place in the event and will not be eligible for any financial recompense.
5 GLIDER CLASSES
5.1 CERTIFICATION STANDARDS
Only En certified gliders are permitted to enter the competition.
5.2 GLIDER CLASSES:
- Overall Class: is for any glider up to, and including, En C
- Sport Class: is for any glider up to, and including, En C
- Leisure Class: is for any glider up to, and including, En B
In addition, the following glider types will NOT be permitted:
- Gliders certified more than ten years prior to the year of the event
- CCC gliders.
- En-D certified gliders
5.3 DUAL GLIDERS
Dual gliders may be allowed but only at the discretion of the Meet Director.
5.4 CHANGES TO GLIDERS
Certified serial or sports class gliders must be flown in their certified configuration and cannot be changed in any way. A glider that has been changed in its configuration even slightly in comparison with the tested model, or a glider that has not been tested, is considered as a prototype, and as such is not permitted.
5.5 GLIDER CHECKING
A glider may be checked at any time throughout the competition. After protest or incident gliders may be inspected. It is always the pilot’s responsibility to prove that the wing conforms to certification requirements, requiring the pilot to provide manufacturers diagrams and certificates. Failure to meet certification requirements will result in disqualification of the pilot from the competition.
5.6 CONTEST NUMBER
Numbers and markings are not required unless there are two identical gliders. In this case one glider may be requested to have specific identification using supplied tape.
6 PRIZES
6.1 OPEN EVENT PRIZES
There will be prizes/trophies awarded for the top finishers for;
- Overall class
- Leisure class
- Female class
Most prizes are awarded for participation rather than winning and are awarded at the discretion of the organisers.
6.2 NUMBER OF PLACES
The number of places recognised will be determined by the quantity of pilots entered for that class at the discretion of the organization.
6.3 PRIZE TYPES
The awards may take the form of sponsor donations and/or trophies
6.4 OTHER PRIZES
May be awarded at the discretion of the organization.
7 REGISTRATION
7.1 PILOT ENTRY FEE
- 400 euros per pilot.
7.2 ENTRY FEE DEADLINE
If the entry fee is not received within seven days (email/website “AWAITING PAYMENT” confirmation), pilots places will be reallocated to the next eligible pilot on the Pilot Waiting List
7.3 CANCELLATION OF A REGISTRATION
Written cancellation should be sent by email to the organization. Any pilots who cancel their registration will be given refunds as follows:
- A pilot who cancels 45 days or more before the Saturday of the event event start can request refund of the full entry fee paid (an administrative fee of 50 euros will be deducted).
- Cancellations received less than 45 days before the Saturday of the event event start will be refunded 50% of the entry fee paid in advance (150 euro).
- Cancellations received 14 days or less before the Saturday of the event start are, unfortunately, not eligible for any refund.
7.4 ACCEPTED ENTRIES
Accepted entries are nontransferable.
8 ORGANISERS & COMMITTEES
8.1 Event ORGANIZER (EO)
The Event Organizer is responsible for the successful management of the event, assisted by other officials
8.2 MEET DIRECTOR (MD)
The Meet Director has responsibility for organizing task setting and task logistics.
8.3 TASK COMMITTEE (TC)
The Task Committee consists of:
– The Safety Officer
– At least two additional pilots with good local knowledge chosen by the MD
This task committee must unanimously agree each day’s task, considering all issues affecting task safety.
8.4 SAFETY COMMITTEE (SC)
The Safety Committee consists of:
- The Safety Officer
- The Pilot’s safety representative (elected/approved during the safety briefing by the particpating pilots)
- The Chief Marshal
8.5 PROTEST COMMITTEE
Following a protest, at the next general briefing, two members of the Competition organizers plus one pilot representative, to be elected by the pilots, will constitute the jury in charge of dealing with the protest.
9 BRIEFINGS
9.1 TYPE
There are three types of Briefing:
– Introductory and Safety Briefing (Prior to the first day flying)
– Morning Briefing (everyday)
– Task briefing (everyday)
9.2 Introductory and Safety BRIEFING
All competitors must be present at the welcome and mandatory safety briefing, to take place at HQ at 8.30am on the first Sunday of the event (with variance at the MD’s discretion)
9.3 MORNING BRIEFING
The morning briefing will be held at the Head Quarters and it is the responsibility of all competing pilots to be present. The start time of this briefing will be communicated via the event social media communications group(s).
9.4 TASK BRIEFING
The task briefing will be held at the take-off area. It is the responsibility of all competing pilots to be present. All technical data specified during this briefing is displayed on the briefing board.
9.5 WINDOW OPENING
The window can be opened a minimum of 15 minutes after the end of the task briefing. In case of a new briefing, the delay of 15 minutes can be reduced.
9.6 PILOTS’ RESPONSIBILITY
It is the pilots’ responsibility to remain informed through the briefing or by consulting the official board put up for this purpose.
9.7 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
All competing pilots must be able to understand and communicate in English in order to be fully aware of safety and task briefings.
10 RESULTS
10.1 PROVISIONAL RESULTS
A provisional result list will be posted via the event social media communications group before 08:00 on the morning following the task (unless technical difficulties require a later posting).
10.2 COMPLAINTS AND PROTESTS
Complaints or protests can be raised for up to two hours after provisional result posting. This may be extended by the meet director in exceptional circumstances.
10.3 COMPLAINT PERIOD
At the end of the complaint period the provisional results must either be held pending the result of a protest committee, or be approved and signed by the MD
After the approval no further corrections can be made.
11 COMPLAINTS, PROTESTS AND APPEALS
11.1 COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
Any pilot enrolled in the competition can make a written (in English) complaint to the Meet Director. It has to be made within two hours of the announcement of the provisional results. The Meet Director will deal with the complaint.
If the person complaining is not satisfied with the outcome, they have the right to protest. Such protest must be made in writing (in English) and be handed to the MD with a protest fee of 60 euro (or equivalent in local currency) within two hours of the announcement of the decision regarding the complaint. The protest committee decision will be shared via the social media communications group and on the communications board. The fee will be refunded if the appeal is upheld.
11.2 APPEAL
Any registered pilot can make an appeal concerning any protest committee decision. The appeal must be made in writing in English, within 24 hours, together with the 60€ protest fee and it must be accompanied by all necessary documents. It has to be addressed to the MD. The fee will be refunded if the appeal is upheld.
12 FLYING AND SAFETY REGULATIONS
12.1 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW
Each competitor is required to conform to the law and rules of the air of the country in which the event is taking place.
12.2 AIRSPACE
Task setting will avoid flying through restricted airspace where possible. Pilots must be fully conversant with air law and must be in possession of approved air maps and altimeter.
12.3 FLIGHT LIMITATIONS
Each glider shall be flown within the limitations of its Certificate of Airworthiness or Permit to Fly and its manufacturer’s published limitations. Any manoeuvre hazardous to other competitors or the public is prohibited.
12.4 DAMAGE TO A COMPETING GLIDER
Any major damage must 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. The Meet Director can give permission to replace the glider, for reasons of damage, loss or theft beyond the control of the competitor. It may be replaced by an identical make and model, or by one with similar or lower performance, eligible to fly in the same class. The Meet Director may allow resumption of flying using the original glider when it is retrieved or repaired.
12.5 PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Every competitor shall wear a protective helmet and use a harness with back protection on all flights. Both helmet and harness should meet requirements set out in Section 7 of the FAI Sporting Code.
All pilots should also fly with a recently repacked certified emergency parachute of the appropriate size.
12.6 FITNESS
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. The Meet Director has the power to ban a pilot from launching if he considers it unsafe for them to do so.
12.7 COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Circuit turning and landing patterns given at the briefing must be complied with. International collision avoidance regulations and good observation must be kept at all times. Any glider joining a thermal established by another glider shall circle in the same direction, regardless of height separation.
12.8 TURN DIRECTION
The MD will confirm each day the direction of all 360° turns in front of take-off, within a given area and time. Failure to comply with turn direction can incur a penalty.
12.9 CLOUD FLYING
Cloud flying is defined as any part of the glider or the pilot disappearing into cloud. Cloud flying is prohibited. If a pilot is accused of flying in cloud, then the onus is on the accused pilot to disprove the accusation using GPS tracklogs or photo/video materials. For safety reasons, including collective cloud flying, the MD and/or the SC may cancel the task before the last landing time.
Should a pilot enter cloud then he/she must be seen by pilots to return to a point of no advantage. This means leaving the cloud in a timely and safe manner and losing height to return to a position lower and further (in relation to next turn point/goal objective) than when the pilot entered cloud.
12.10 EXTERNAL AID TO COMPETITORS
External aid to competitors is not permitted.
12.11 COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
Radios must be carried in flight by all participating competition pilots and radios may only be used in the air for safety reasons. The Organizer of the event will announce an official safety frequency.
For retrieval the Event Organization may announce an alternate frequency. The Organizer is not responsible for pilots flying without a radio. Voice activated microphones (VOX operated) are not allowed and must be deactivated. If available, the ‘Time-out Timer’ (TOT) setting for pilot radios should be set to the minimum: (typically 15 seconds). If any pilot wishes to set the TOT for a longer period setting then they must seek permission from the MD.
12.12 GPS
GPS will be used for flight validation. Each pilot will be supplied with a GPS tracker with the ability to record a 3d track log. If this primary GPS fails the pilot may be asked to provide a tracklog from a second GPS in order to validate the competitor’s flight or if there is dispute over the flight, airspace or cloud flying. Pilots must therefore bring their GPS tracking device to Check-In after each task in order that their tracklog can be downloaded.
13 TAKEOFF
13.1 SIGN TO FLY
After the task has been briefed, all pilots who are satisfied that they can compete safely and who wish to compete in the day’s task are invited to collect their GPS tracker. Collection of the tracker is taken to mean acceptance of the task and a willingness to accept all risk and to choose to participate. Tracker collection is a substitute for the traditional ‘Sign-to-Fly’ documentation.
13.2 NON FLYING
If a pilot decides not to fly in a task, they should report as soon as possible to the organization. They may be asked to hand their tracker back if they have previously collected one.
13.3 TAKEOFF AREA
The Take off Areas for the task will be defined by the Meet Director at the task briefing. The Meet Director will also define the number of possible launch positions.
13.4 ACCESS CONDITIONS FOR TOP PILOTS
At the discretion of the Meet Director, the top 10 pilots of overall Open event ranking may be given the right to take precedence over other pilots in the take-off area whenever they choose. Before doing so they must identify themselves to one of the launch marshals or competition officials.
13.5 OPEN WINDOW
Opening time of the window and window extension time will be announced at the task briefing and be displayed on the official briefing board.
13.6 WINDOW EXTENSION
If, for safety reasons, the Meet Director considers that conditions have become dangerous or un-launchable, they may temporarily close the window. The window will then be extended by the time the take-off was closed without, however, exceeding the deadline for window extension.
13.7 RESTART
If a competitor has an issue affecting safety after launch, he can request permission from the Meet Director or a Safety Marshal to top land. If this is granted, they may top land as directed. In the case of a major problem forcing re-landing immediately after launching, a pilot may take off again after gaining permission from the Meet Director or Safety Officer. The pilot’s take-off time remains, in any case, the one of the earliest start.
14 LANDING
14.1 GOAL DEADLINE
The latest time for landing at goal will be announced at the task briefing and displayed on the task briefing board. Pilots who land in goal after the deadline will not score time points.
14.2 REPORT BACK
A pilot must report back to Check-In, in person, 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 and displayed on the briefing board. It is important to comply to avoid unnecessary search and rescue operations. Pilots who do not respect this rule could be penalized or even disqualified from the event.
14.3 LANDING DEADLINE
A landing deadline is the time by which all pilots must have landed. If a safe landing area cannot be found at this time the pilot is allowed to land as soon as possible after the landing time. In any case the pilot’s position will be the best position from the GPS track-log prior to the landing deadline.
14.4 CHECK-IN DEADLINE
Checking-in, in-person, is mandatory for all pilots who collected a tracker and indicated that they wished to start the task. Each pilot must personally give in their GPS tracker and cannot pass the tracker to anyone else to hand in. Failure to check in may be penalized.
15 TASK EVIDENCE
15.1 SOURCE DATA
Flight data will only be collected directly from a GPS. No copies of files, or files from any other source will be accepted as evidence for a flight. Only valid GPS data will be considered as true evidence. If the supplied event tracker fails to record a flight track then it is the pilot’s responsibility to provide a GPS track-log that clearly proves that he/she flew the task as defined by the scoring program used and did not infringe any airspace.
15.2 VALID GPS DATA
To be considered as valid, the track-log must satisfy the following criteria:
- The track-log must show at least 2 minutes of data and at least 5 continuous track-log points prior to and after the track-log points or a couple of points used to verify a turn-point.
- The track-log must show at least 2 minutes of data and at least 5 continuous track-log points prior to and after a start.
- The track-log must have valid and consistent time stamps.
- The track-log must show altitude data
- A continuous track-log is one where each consecutive point is 30 seconds or less from its predecessor.
15.3 GPS CHECKING
Criteria for any GPS start and for each turn point claimed (the turn-point is the GPS co-ordinate supplied by the organizer), the track-log must show one of the following:
- A point within the cylinder.
- A pair of points for which a straight line drawn from the first point to the second point passes through the cylinder.
15.4 BEST POSITION
Pilots will score their best position reached in the task. It can be the landing place or a better position flown in the air. A pilot’s best position will be determined by examination of their GPS track-log.
15.5 MANDATORY TRACKLOG
Where forbidden or dangerous airspace exists, the MD can ask the pilot to provide a track log that proves that these areas were avoided. If necessary, this will be announced at task briefing.
15.6 GPS’S MODELS
Because of technical limits, only some particular models suit the verification protocol. It is the competitor’s responsibility to ensure their GPS is capable of delivering a complete 3D track-log in an acceptable manner and that the hardware to transfer the track-log from the instrument to the organisers, is suitable.
16 PENALTIES
16.1 TRACKLOG PENALTIES
Track-log Penalties for incorrect GPS track-log and launch:
- Start point incorrect/missing = distance points given to last correct point.
- Turn points incorrect or missing = distance points given to last correct point.
16.2 PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO REPORT
Competitors who fail to collect their tracker at take-off, thereby indicating their ‘sign-to-fly’ acceptance of risk, will score zero for the task. Failure to report back after a task will also incur a score of zero for the task. For failure to report back after a stopped task a pilot will lose their average task score for the competition from their overall score.
16.3 PENALTY FOR CLOUD FLYING
Penalty for cloud flying is at the Meet Director’s discretion but would usually be zero score for the Task. Repeated offence is considered sufficient grounds for disqualification from the competition.
16.4 PENALTY FOR EXCEEDING MAXIMUM CERTIFIED WEIGHT
Pilots are required to fly within the certified weight limit of their glider. Approved glider loading is part of the En certification process for any paraglider.
The Niviuk Fly Wide Open event organisation reserve the right to check the all-up weight of pilots at any time during the event at their discretion. Pilots may be selected at random. They must use the same set of scales for all participants being weighed and are not be required to validate the veracity of the weighing scales used.
Pilots carrying excess ballast or whom exceed the certifiied weight limit of their glider for any reason, may be penalized but in all cases they should ensure that their weight is within the specified range for their wing before they next launch.
Pilots must carry sufficient water and glider packing equipment to ensure their own safety when walking shoudl they land-out.
16.5 PENALTY FOR INFRINGING TURN DIRECTION
Pilots infringing turn direction will be penalized at the discretion of the Meet Director. Repeat offenders may be disquaified from the event.
17 VALIDATION OF A TASK
17.1 Task Validity
A task will be considered fully valid when the Day Quality is equal to 1 and the window was validated.
17.2 Day Quality
Day Quality is a parameter calculated by the scoring program and is a measure of how well the task differentiated pilot performance. If the quality is equal to 1 the task will have a total of 1000 points available. The winner of the task may not receive all the available points, e.g. the maximum lead out points may be awarded to another pilot.
17.3 Window Validity
The Launch Window will be validated when: The Launch window has been open for the minimum required time OR all competitors have launched. The formula for the minimum required time in minutes is as follows: Number of competitors (who have signed to fly on that day), multiplied by two minutes, divided by number of launch positions. The number of launch positions will be declared by the Meet Director at the first Introductory and Safety Meeting.
17.4 STOPPING OF A TASK
The Meet Director and/or the Safety Officer or Chief Marshall can stop a task in case of hazardous weather or other conditions which, in their view, could endanger the safety of pilots before the landing deadline is expired. Stopping of a task is announced on the safety frequency and by other means stated in the local regulations. If one or more pilots have reached goal at the time the task was stopped, the task is scored. Both race and elapsed time tasks, if stopped with no pilots in goal, will be scored and be pro-rated according to a formula, which will be announced along with the scoring formulae for the competition (see 18.2).
17.5 CANCELLATION AFTER LANDING
After the last landing time a task can only be cancelled by a safety committee decision. The TD and/or the MD can ask for a decision on the validation of a task.
17.6 ASSISTANCE TO A PILOT IN DANGER
All pilots must gather up their gliders immediately after landing. A glider lying open on the ground means “I need help!”
17.7 COMPENSATION TO AN ASSISTING PILOT
A pilot assisting an injured or downed pilot will be compensated task points by receiving points for the task equal to their average score for all the other tasks in the competition round.
18 SCORING & TASK DROPPING
18.1 SCORING
Tasks will be scored using suitable scoring software and the scoring formulae and parameters (eg Nominal Distance and Time, Minimum Distance, nominal percentage of pilots in Goal and Launch parameter ‘L’ ) will be announced prior to competition start.
18.2 SCORING STOPPED TASKS STOPPED RACE TASKS
If the leader has flown more than 1/2 task distance when the task is stopped, then the task is scored based on pilot positions 10 minutes before the task was stopped. The available scores will be devalued according to the proportion of the task distance the leader has flown.
ELAPSED TIME TASK
Stopped elapsed time tasks will only be scored if there is a pilot in goal whose elapsed time for the task was shorter than the time that elapsed between the Last Start Time and the official Task Stopped Time. The official Task Stopped Time will be 10 minutes before the time of the official declaration that the task was stopped. The task will be devalued according to the proportion of pilots in goal whose time was shorter than the time that elapsed between the Last Start Time and the official Task Stopped Time.
19 PILOT LISTING AND RESULTS
The Organizers shall publish a list of all competing pilots with names and nationality as well as the manufacturer of the glider.
19.1 RESULTS SHEET
The result sheet must show:
– Name of pilot and nationality
– Brand and name of glider
– Type of class
– Duration of flight and distance flown
– Take-off time and finish time for elapsed time race, race to goal
– Sum of points awarded
– Any points deducted as a result of a task dropping system.
19.2 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF RESULTS
The results will be published at the end of each event and sent promptly to FAI for inclusion in the latest World Pilot Ranking.
20 EMERGENCY RULES
20.1 Rules changes and additions
A new rule may be introduced at any time during an event to address unforeseen problems which are deemed by the Meet Director, or the Niviuk Fly Wide Open Event Organiser, to present a threat to pilot safety.
Any such rule must be written down and referenced on the task board each day that it is in force.
Any such rule will not be retrospectively applied.