Tony

I think the excuse that ‘there is a conflict of interest’ because the head of the paragliding sub-committee is involved in organising Cat 1 comps is, frankly, a load of crap. Surely one would want this person to be involved in organising comps so that they knew what they were talking about?

That the BHPA have chosen to exert political influence to remove Calvo is an outrage as we know it’s much more likely that this was an excuse because characters in the BHPA executive don’t like him personally and it certainly wasn’t done on the say so of pilots who broadly support and respect him, but in the usual back-room meeting which, sadly, we are all too familiar with when it comes to the BHPA and national organisations generally.

Or is it becuase a certain John Aldridge, member of the BHPA executive body which asked for Calvo’s resignation, and newly elected CIVL President, was worried that Calvo might have had designs on the top job himself and getting rid of him this way was a quick and easy way to nip it in the bud?!

Mark Hayman – saying the unspeakable since 1967…

Ah, the participant in a Category 1 competition has to sign this statement:

I, the undersigned, declare that the Class glider (make) . (model) I will fly in the ________________(Name of event) Championship, from to (dates) is certified by one or more of the internationally recognized certifying bodies (namely the DHV, HGMA or the BHPA). Furthermore I declare that it is in certified configuration and I undertake not to alter this configuration. I understand that I am the sole individual responsible for the integrity of my glider.

A see that no one else was willing to do it.

At the 2009 Worlds, all the Wills Wing gliders were prototypes because the manufacturer is not willing to sign a written statement that they can not in any way vouch for. All the gliders were of course certified.

So tell me how are you going to fix this?

Tom