Modifications on PWC regulations
        for the 99 PWC season.

In order to improve safety in PWC competitions, the committee examined all proposals made by the security working group and by individuals.

The spirit of the committee was to stay as open as possible to the different points of view, but also to construct something workable. The two keywords that lead all votes were "SAFETY" and "FAIRNESS" but it’s true that the committee had also to include parameters like Economy and Logistic.

The 1999 season must be seen as a test year. Even if changes are already important, the PWC had to give time to pilots and manufacturers to adapt themselves.

A working group is already studying the possibilities which will permit to improve the rules and to manage gliders in a better way for the year 2000 or 2001.

The objective is to increase safety, to create only 1 class, called "D" class, This "D" class, still has to be defined by the working group which includes DHV, ACPUL, test bodies, manufacturers, test pilots & PWC representatives. Their work will include the gliders safety & harnesses, a certification particularly at speed & recovery from cravats & collapses. They will also define the requirements for pilot’s skill.

 

GLIDERS in 1999

Creation of 2 classes " Open Class " (Prototypes & gliders with certification) & " Serial Class " (DHV 2/3 or AFNOR Performance) :

Each pilot flying with a serial class glider must bring a documentary proof of certification and the line plan of his glider.

The pilots have to use the type of harness corresponding to the glider’s certification.

Pilots flying with an " Open class " glider must bring to the competition’s registration the following documents :

    a) In case of using a certified glider (for example : AFNOR competition or DHV 3 glider) :

    b) In case of using a prototype, the needed documentation is :

It is the constructor’s responsibility to choose which pilots are flying with his prototypes.

It is the pilot’s responsibility to have all the needed documentation. This documentation has to be shown at the competition’s registration. Without this documentation, the pilot will be refused !

The prototype can be worked or improved between each event but the pilot is not allowed to make any modifications during the competition. If a modification has been done between 2 competitions a new line plan and manufacturer certificate guaranteeing that the prototype meets the AFNOR competition standards must be presented at the registration

The competition organiser, helped by the PWCA technical delegate, have to control some gliders during the event (the line plan is therefore the reference for the controllers).

In case of infringement, the sanction will be decided by the jury.

IMPORTANT : The Open class glider selection will be effective only after the PWC in Argentina (ancient prototypes are still accepted for this event). All points scored by pilots under any non "serial class" glider will count for the open class classification.

 

RULES

Really important changes were made in the rules : nearly all proposals that are improving safety were accepted. Only those who were non–realistic were refused. The fact is that most of the danger is coming from the need to use high speeds to win.

 

1. PWC points are disappearing.

    Only "Sportive Points" on 1000 (based on time and distance) will be taken into account to make the classification. The scoring formula still has to be chosen by the PWCA working group.

    Remark : this is a very important decision because it’s also a change in the PWC spirit. The rank is abandoned to set the hierarchy.

 

2. The final PWC ranking will be counted by 1/4 discards, that means that on 4 tasks run, 3 will count for the PWC overall ranking     

    Task run Discards Task run Discards Task run Discards Task run Discards Task run Discards

    1

    0

    7

    1

    13

    3

    19

    4

    25

    6

    2

    0

    8

    2

    14

    3

    20

    5

    26

    6

    3

    0

    9

    2

    15

    3

    21

    5

    27

    6

    4

    1

    10

    2

    16

    4

    22

    5

    28

    7

    5

    1

    11

    2

    17

    4

    23

    5

    29

    7

    6

    1

    12

    3

    18

    4

    24

    6

    30

    7

    Remark : More tasks are counting now, so pilots can not easily waste tasks like it was before.

     

3. The Overall PWC winner

  One Overall PWC winner, which could be a " Serial or Open " class pilot or a female " Serial or Open class " pilot.

Each winner in each class wins with an equal statuts.

During the season, a pilot can change from Serial glider to an Open class glider but he can’t go backwards.

IMPORTANT : At the first PWC registration, pilots will have to choose in which category they fly. If they fly with "Serial class gliders", they are able to change to the other category (Open class) at the following event, and to keep their points. But the opposite is not allowed (points earned in the Open class can never count for the Serial class).

 

4. The Task Committee

    The task committee is now composed of 2 elected pilots + the Technical Delegate + the Meet Director, This task committee will decide the task all together. Unanimity is required for the final decision. It is the responsibility of the task committee to inform themselves as fully as possible of the issues affecting all safety elements during the task.

    At the beginning of the season the pwca committee will choose among volunteer pilots a pool of 10 who may be elected for the task committee in each PWC event.

     

5. Guideline for task setters

 

6. Finish line management

    To make the final glide more secure, the MD can choose to use two different goal lines :

    When a pilot crosses the first line : his time is taken. Then, he must go on flying in order to cross the second line which will validate his performance. If he lands before the second line, he will only be credited from the distance flown and he looses his time points.

    Remark : this forces the pilots to cross the first line high enough and increase security. The same line can be used twice but after the first is crossed, pilots need to turn around a turn point and come back to pass a second time the first line.

     

7. Maximum N° of pilots in a PWC competition

      Each PWC event will be limited to a maximum of 110 pilots including 8 wildcards pilots, this is
         to decrease proximity in the air.

 

8. Types of start

      4 types of start can be used now : the new one is called "clock air start" : During the opened window, the organiser can change several  
         times (for example : each 15 min) the ground marker (for example : a ground marker of 4 stripes) and each 15 min, he removes one stripe, so the pilots
         who want  to start at that moment have to take a picture from the ground marker. This will avoid overcrowding at the air start. It is also possible to use this
         system beginning  by a normal start and adding stripes.

    Remark : the pilot has to remember his start time from the clock air start to fill the runreport in (otherwise organisers will need to wait until film development).

     

9. Entry fee

FF 1100.00 / Pilot or Sfr 275.00 / Pilot. No lunch Packets will be provided anymore.

 

10. Cancellation of a PWC registration

Any pilot who has paid his entry fee and who doesn’t come to the competition, without informing the PWCA Office at least one week before the competition starts, will not be reimbursed. We will refund a percentage of his entry fee, only if he can be replaced.

 

11. Prize Money

will be provided to the top 3 pilots in each class and then to the 3 overall ranked female pilots. This prize money will be shared proportionally depending on the percentage of the number of participants in each class (Open & serial class). The minimum total amount is sfr 2625,00

 

12. An English speaking emergency doctor

must be present on the competition site. The TD will check the available medical equipment before the beginning of each PWC event.