Competition gliders at the PWC in Sun Valley, Idaho. Photo: Nick Greece
A new Competition Class of paraglider is to be introduced from 2015, following a meeting of CIVL over the weekend of 16-17 February.
The new class of glider will need to meet certain standards, including minimum line strength, a load test and a revised EN certification test.
Maximum speed of the gliders will be limited to 65km/h, and aspect ratio will be limited to 7.0.
The specifications for the new Competition Class will be revised every two years.
Delegates at the meeting voted almost unanimously – with only one vote against – to adopt the new Comp Class proposal.
The current requirement for gliders in competition to be certified EN D will remain until 31 December 2014.
CIVL said it was, “the best long-term solution available”.
The decision received mixed reviews from competition pilots. Writing on paraglidingforum.com Adrian Thomas, a top UK competitor, called it, “the least bad solution”.
A separate proposal to make two reserves mandatory for competition pilots was rejected. Instead pilots will need to fly with a reserve that can be deployed using either hand, ie a front-mounted reserve, or two reserves.
Follow the debate
CIVL statement: A new competition class is born
CIVL background: A Brief History of Serial versus Competition Class Paragliders
What is CIVL?
CIVL sanctions paragliding and hang gliding competitions. More about CIVL here.
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