Jugra International Paragliding Selangor Open 2009

1. GENERAL

1.1 Objectives

The first objective of the competition is to determine the Individual Open Champion of Jugra International Selangor Open Paragliding Accuracy Competition by means of a competition open to individuals of all nations. The second objective is to determine the Individual Champion and Champions of Malaysian Gliding Association (PTLM) accuracy Competition by means of a competition open to individuals of the PTLM.

1.2 Eligibility

Entry is open to all current members of PTLM holding a minimum of Club Pilot (PL1) rating. Foreign competitors must be current members of their National Governing Body and hold an equivalent pilot rating. Competitors in the FAI Category 2 competition must have a current FAI licence and IPPI Card. The maximum number of pilots will be 100 with a minimum of 20 pilots to validate the FAI Category 2 competition.

1.3 Categories

The competition will comprise the following categories:

1. Jugra Team Open.
2. Jugra Individual Open.
3. Jugra Women Open.
4. PTLM Closed.

1.4 Eligibility for Categories

1. Jugra Team Open- Two team of 4 pilots each team per nation/country.
2. Jugra Individual Open  - Open to all with maximum 100 pilots.
3. Jugra Women Open - Open to women pilots with minimum entry of 10 pilots.
4. PTLM Closed - Open to current members of PTLM of Malaysia citizens only.
5. All pilots must have :
   • Valid FAI Sporting License
   • Valid IPPI Card
   • PARAPRO4 (PTLM members minimum PARAPRO3)

2. CONDUCT OF COMPETITION

2.1 Rules and Procedures

The competition shall be conducted in accordance with Section 7C of the FAI Sporting Code, these rules and PTLM published procedures. All persons are expected to comply with these rules, directions given by competition officials and the tenets of good behaviour.

2.2 Officials

All personnel in a position of authority and involved in the direct running and operation of the competition shall be current members of the PTLM or CIVL viz. The Meet Director, the Chief and Event judges and Launch Marshall.

2.3 Registration

All competitors and substitutes must personally register on arrival on site with the registrar by the nominated date and time. They shall produce, at that time their current PTLM Individual Membership card, a valid FAI licence for those entering the FAI Category 2 competition and evidence of the certification or registration of the glider to be flown in the competition. Overseas competitors shall produce similar evidence of competence/membership applicable to their own country/association, a valid FAI licence and evidence of 3rd party insurance.

2.4 Launching

Competitors will launch only when requested to or with the permission of the Launch Marshal.

2.5 Pre-flight Checks

Pilots will be responsible for carrying out there own pre-flight checks.

2.6 Protest Procedures

A competitor may submit a protest to the Chief Judge for consideration by the Appeals Panel. The protest must be in writing, stating the protest, the rule(s) applicable and the remedy sought. The protest must be made within 2 hours of the disputed incident. A deposit of rm150.00 must accompany the submission. The deposit is only refundable if the protest is upheld. In the case of the protest being denied the monies shall be enter into the competition fund.

2.7 Appeals Panel

An Appeals Panel shall exist to resolve disputes over any protest submitted. The panel shall consist of an Appeals Panel Chairman appointed by the Meet Director and 2 representatives nominated by the competitors. The Chair of the appeals panel shall be someone who has a good knowledge of the rules and none of the panel should have been directly involved in the original dispute.

OTHER LOCAL RULES

3. Every competitor shall fly at his or her own risk.

4. Each competitor shall fly within the operation limitations of his/her skill and equipments.

5. Once the competitor has started, competing glider may not be replaced. Damaged glider may be replaced if the competition Director gives permission.

6. Competitors MUST obey aviation laws at all times.

7. A competitor who involved in an accident must immediately report it to the organizer. The cost for rescue to foreign country must be borne by the competitor or his/her family.

8. Protective equipment

Competitor must wear protective helmet and carry a serviceable rescue parachute.

9. Footwear

Must be suitable for safe landing in all valid wind directions. Heel and tip of competitor’s footwear must not be modified such that it might damage an automatic measuring devise. A breach of this rule may result in disqualification.

10. Personal health matters

A competitor may not fly unless he/she is fit. Any drugs or medication that might affect competitor’s performance in the air are prohibited.

11. Collision avoidance

All competitors must at all times keep a lookout for other gliders to avoid midair collision.

12.    A competitor involved in a collision in the air must not continue the flight if the structural integrity of his/her glider is in doubt.

13. Cloud flying

Cloud flying is prohibited. Competitors will be watched by the organizer and other competitors.

14. Ballast

A competing glider may carry jettison able ballast only in the form of water. A competitor shall avoid dropping the ballast at any time in a manner likely to affect other competitors or third party.

15. Communication instruments

Radio transmissions are allowed for reasons of safety only and not to be used for the purpose of providing advantages competitive information such as target conditions.

16. Safety Committee and its function

Safety committee shall be formed by three elected competitors; it shall report to the Competition Director when they found the conditions on the course including around take off area become unsafe. According to that information, the Competition Director must determine whether the task shall be continued or otherwise. Although the competitors in the flight shall have all the responsibility to decide to continue flying or not by themselves.

17. Briefing

There shall be General briefings and task briefings. All competitors should participate in the General briefings. Information shall be posted at the information board.

18. Task briefing

It shall be held around take-off/landing with all competitors using detailed weather forecast and an area map.

19. Publication of Task Results

Provisional result will be posted as soon as a round is finished and before the next round. However, if there are re-launches awarded according to rules 25, it will not be the case. Complaints to provisional result must be lodge within the time limit of 30 (in case of the last round 10) minutes. After dealing all complaints and protests, then acceptance of the competition Director the provisional result will be official.

20. Complaint

A complaint may be made to the Competition Director to request a correction. Prior to submitting a complaint, competitor must have sought redress of the problem by asking to the person in charge. If the problem is resolved, the procedure stops there, if is not, the competitor may proceed to a complaint and must be made as soon as the problem arises. It is limited to 30 minutes except the last round it is 10 minutes.

21. Penalties and disqualification

The Competition Director may impose penalties to competitors. Penalty degree:

1. A competitor who commits a severe violation shall be given maximum score for the round.
2. Unsportsmanlike behaviors may result in disqualification from the event. All penalties shall be publish on the score sheet of the day.

22. Start System

1. On the 1st round, starting order of a round will be in accordance to a draw/ballot.
2. On and after 2nd round, starting order of a round will be in middle number of the total competitors.
3. There shall be a draw ballot each day.

23. Flying Sequence

The names of competitors entered as individuals will be drawn at random. Competitors must fly in the published flying order unless they have prior permission from the Launch Marshal. Competitors not ready to fly in the established flying order when called forward by the Launch Marshal will be liable to a 10m penalty in lieu of their score for that round.Competitors shall follow any flight course recommendations provided at the briefing and must not delay their approach to the target by doing soaring.

24. Launch intervals

Competitors will launch at timed intervals to ensure adequate separation during the final approach and landing, according to the conditions. The launch interval shall be a minimum of 2 minutes between competitors.

25. Start System

1. On the 1st round, starting order of a round will be in accordance to a draw/ballot.
2. On and after 2nd round, starting order of a round will be in middle number of the total competitors.

26. Take-Off

Competitors must fly in the published flying order, unless they have prior permission from launch marshal. Competitors not ready to fly in the established flying order when called forward by the launch marshal or who launch without permission, will be liable to maximum score penalty in lieu of their score for that round.

27. Re-Launches

A re-launch may be awarded only for the following reasons:

1. Wind Speed exceeds the specified limit during the time of 30 seconds before the competitor touches the landing point or Chief Judge considers that the target approach becomes difficult because of severe change of wind direction. The competitor will automatically offer a re-launch. The competitor must make a decision immediately.
2. The target is obscured during a competitor’s final approach and the competitor does not attempt to land on the target. The competitor may indicate (point or call) the obstruction as he/she lands.
3. Judges are unable to agree an accurate score for any reason.
4. The competitor changes his flight plan for safety reasons to avoid another competitor’s in the air, and does not attempt to land on the target.
5. Distraction – If there is any significant external distraction which demonstrably affects the competitor’s target approach.
6. Judges Discretion – At judge’s discretion on the ground of a technical problem or abnormal conditions. This maybe a failure in equipment (e.g. broken steering line or big tuck during the flight) which is not the result of competitor’s poor pre-flight check , or massive sink such that competitor is unable to reach the target or arrives with sufficient height to make a final approach. A re-launch may be authorized provided that the competitor does not attempt to fly to the target.
7. A competitor may only request a re-launch following the dispute flight by applying to the Judge at the target before signing his score. The competitor must register his request for re-launch with the recording judge before communicating with any other person (with exception of the Chief Judge). At the time a re-launch is awarded the competitor score for the disputed flight will be cancelled. Re-launch shall take place at the end of that round. If a re-launch is not awarded and the competitor refuses to sign for the score this will be deemed to be a complaint and the time at which the complaint arose will be recorded and notified to the competitor.

28. Competitor separation

Competitor in flight have to separate themselves by height to ensure safe and un-obscured landing at the target. Overtaking at low altitude above the target is not allowed and may lead to maximum score penalty. It may be regarded as dangerous flying conduct (items 31).

29. Wind Speed Limitations

Maximum wind speed allowed to run a round is 6.0m/s. When the wind speed is expected to exceed this limit during a round, the round will be halted until the wind has eased sufficiently. The upper winds, which are measurable, are not taken into consideration.

30. Target Obstruction

The competitor will be entitled to unobstructed visibility of the target during the final approach.

31. Out landings

A competitor landing outside the target area must report to the Judging Team as soon as possible. Failure to do so may invalidate any claim for re-launch.

32. Penalties:

1. A competitor who is judged to have done cloud flying will be given maximum score for the round.
2. A competitor who is judged to have done a dangerous flying will be given maximum score for the round.

33. Event and Round Validity:

1. Round Validity - To count as a valid round all competitors shall have been given the opportunity to have at least one competition flight in that round. The result obtained in any round will count towards the score only when a round has been completed (i.e. when all of the competitors have received a score or a penalty). In the event of a break in the middle of a round, the competition will be resumed from where it left off.
2. Event Validity - The event will be validated as a Jugra-League when at least one round is validated. However to be valid as FAI Cat 2 Jugra Championship at least TWO (2) rounds must be validated.

34. The Winner

Shall be the competitor gaining the lowest aggregate score.

35. Guidelines for Assistance to a competitor in danger

All competitors must pack their gliders immediately after landing; a glider lying open on the ground means “I need help”. A competitor witnessing any kind of accident must try to inform the organizer as soon as possible using radio.Calling procedure: “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”. Give details of:

1. Name and number of the competitor reporting the accident.
2. Position of the victim (GPS Coordinates)
3. Name and number of competitor in trouble.
4. Description of glider color and model in trouble
5. The competitor who stopped the task and supported rescue actions will be awarded
6. Re-launch at the discretion of the Competition Director.

36. Score Measurement

Competitors will score on the distance in centimeters between the landing point (i.e. the first point of the ground contact with a foot) and the edge of the dead center disc. The score shall be 0 cm, if the landing point is at the dead center disc. The score will be measure by the use of an electronic pad. If the landing is outside the electronic pad or when the electronic pad is rendered useless, then a measurement shall be taken from the center of the pad. If the competitor lands outside the measuring field he scores a maximum score, which is the measuring field radius. Landing has to be made on the feet. If the competitor falls at landing, he will receive a maximum score. A fall means if any part of the body (excluding the feet) or equipment (excluding the speed system, stirrup or tow yoke) touches the ground before the wing does. However, only if a harness touches the ground slightly without bearing the competitor’s weight, the competitor will receive the normal score plus 100 cm penalty. If a competitor lands with both feet together or lands in such a manner that the foot’s first point of contact cannot be defined (heel, tip…), then the furthest point of the footprint is measured.

37. Competitor Score

The score of a competitor shall be the aggregate of all the scores achieved by that competitor. When five (5) or more rounds are completed, the worst one (1) score is dropped.

38. Tied Score

In the event of any tie between the first three competitors, both (or all) will have an additional tie-breaker flight.

39. Recording of scores

A competitor who did not fly is indicated by DNF on the score sheet and accorded the maximum. A competitor who is disqualified for that round will be indicated DSQ on the score sheet and accorded the maximum score. Any competitor who withdraws for illness or accident will be accorded a maximum score for all subsequent rounds not flown. A competitor who is disqualified from the event shall no longer be counted as a competitor for the purpose of scoring.

40. Automatic measuring device (electronic pad)

Scores up to minimum 15cm are measured by the electronic measuring devise. A certain pressure must be applied by the competitor to the automatic measuring devise to make it record the score. If an automatic measuring devise is found to be defective or not reset and the first point of the ground contact has been on it, judges may measure that competitor’s score manually provided they are able to do so with consistency and certainty.

41. Validation of scores

As soon as is it practical after the end of each round the recorder will post the scores from that round (with the posting date and time clearly identified) on the main briefing board labeled PROVISIONAL. Any protest with the scores must be lodged within the time defined in the local regulations. If there is not protest by the end of the time limit the round will be declared as OFFICIAL.

42. Measuring Field

The size of the measuring field will be 10m.

43. Disqualification

Any infringement of Section 7C of the FAI Sporting Code, these rules or other PTLM published procedures may result in disqualification. Where any competitor or person attending the competition, exhibits behaviour which brings the sport into disrepute they may be immediately expelled from the site and future competitions.

44. Unsporting Behavior

Cheating or unsporting behavior, including deliberate attempts to deceive or mislead officials, willful interference with other competitors, falsification of documents, use of forbidden equipment, abusive behavior towards competition officials or repeated serious infringements of rules should, as a guide result in a maximum penalty score being awarded.

45. Number of Rounds

There shall be as many full rounds completed within the time available and as the conditions will permit as determined by the competition officials. A minimum of two rounds must be completed to constitute a competition with 6 rounds being the maximum. There will be a maximum of 4 rounds in any day.

46. Wind

Momentary changes of wind direction which result in the wind direction indicator(s) or wind speed measuring sensor not being on the upwind side will not automatically be grounds for a re-launch, but will be at the discretion of the Chief Judge.

47. Adverse Weather Conditions

Operations will only proceed / continue if considered safe by the Meet Director / Chief Judge. Pre-fliers will fly after periods of stand down of 1 hour or more if time permits.

48. Dangerous Flying

Competitors considered to be flying in a manner prejudicial to either their own or the safety of others, may be disqualified from the competition at the discretion of the Chief Judge.

49. Other matters

Which are not dealt with in this Local Regulations will be judged based on the Paragliding Accuracy CIVL rules.