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This year there were significant decisions to make in the CIVL for the future of paragliding competitions. The question of whether to allow the use of rigid structures like carbon rods in paragliders participating in FAI1 competitions (Continental and World Championships) took a big part of the debates and was followed by pilots  around the globe through the forums, as well as the request by the Paraglider Manufacturers Asssociation (PMA) for a re-definition of Paraglider (see the news here) that would place the new wings with carbon into a new category. Finally, most of the delegates considered that paraglider development should not be limited and that, therefore, there is no need to redefine paraglider for now. The decision seems to please most opinions in and out of the meeting.
“CIVL is fully aware that the introduction of new materials and new technology into paraglider design does not necessarily constitute a compromise in safety. On the contrary, we have seen many instances in which such innovations have actually made our sport safer”, read the subcommittee recommendation to the Plenary.
To address the issue of prototype and open class paragliders (uncertified) being eligible to fly in Cat 1 events, the proposal was to introduce a form of ‘self-certification’ in which manufacturers will be required to publish documentation and a video of the paraglider wherein its various flight characteristics have been demonstrated as a result of a series of maneuvers.
A working group led by Martin Scheel (long time Swiss Team Leader) will have to determine the requirements such a paraglider would have to fulfill as well as the feasibility and means by which such a new standard could be introduced. This means that there will be no changes before the Europeans of 2012. The working group will also study the possibility of introduction of limitations such as aspect ratio, weight of the paragliders, minimum line length or other options.
The plenary also agreed that helmets certified EN966 (specifically for airborne sports) will be compulsory at FAI CAT 1 events, i.e., Worlds and Europeans or other continental events.
Also addressing the issue of security for the competition pilots, it was decided that EN1651 and LTF09 certified harnesses must be used in CAT 1  events from 2011 on, in order to ensure a certain back protection in the harnesses.
Other important decision was the election of the place for the next European Championship 2012, which will be St André Les Alps, in the south of France.
UK’s John Aldridge became the new president of CIVL. He said that one of the reason why he’s doing it is because “I do see a will to go forward and improve safety” in the sport of paragliding.
Robert Aarts (Finland) is the new chairman of the Paragliding Subcommittee, replacing Chris Burns (“Calvo”).
What is CIVL and why do you care?
The International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) has a number of Commissions, each having responsibility for its own speciality. Hang gliding and paragliding make up the Commission Internationale de Vol Libre (CIVL), translated as ‘FAI Hang Gliding and Paragliding Commission’.
The Plenary of the CIVL, formed by the country-members delegates and the CIVL bureau, meets once every year and it decides which rules will apply for safety and for the conduct of competitions, badge flights and record attempts. It also decides where future Championships will be held. Finally, it elects the Bureau. Each member country of CIVL has one vote. Between annual meetings, CIVL is run by the Bureau, which consists of the President, four Vice Presidents, the Treasurer and the Secretary.
It can be said that the Plenary is the Parliament of CIVL and the Bureau is its elected Government.
The Bureau is helped by various Subcommittees and Working Groups, covering all aspect of our sport: Safety and training; Hang gliding; Paragliding; Paragliding accuracy; Aerobatic; Flight verification, records, badges and awards; Scoring, ranking, and CIVL softwares, Environmental affairs, Sporting code, Jury and steward, etc.
Although the decisions of the CIVL mainly affect competition and records, those put the boundaries and background to the general development of the sport, eventually making their way into the design of serial gliders, for example.
+Info: http://www.fai.org/hang_gliding/civl
*See discussion on PGforum here:
*Related news: Manufacturers vote definition of Paraglider: Full flexible structure
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The 2010 Plenary Meeting of the CIVL (Hang gliding and Paragliding Commission of the FAI) closed this Sunday afternoon as one of the most transcendental for the future of paraglider development. The CIVL decided against a re-definition of paragliders as requested by the PMA, and for the use of innovations in design such as carbon rods. It was also decided that only helmets and harnesses certified for free flight will be allowed in FAI1 comps. The next Paragliding Europeans will be held in St André Les Alps, in France.
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