Archive For: NEWS

31 October 2015

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SAFETY TESTS

DHV in the dog house

The Paragliding Manufacturers Association (PMA) met at St Hilaire du Touvet, France, on 17th September 2015 to discuss the execution of safety class tests carried out by the DHV.  Recent findings would suggest that testing carried out by the DHV does not objectively meet the standards and criteria required to do so.

In the interests of the general public, the PMA have released its official statement, following strong criticism by the manufacturers.

The full statement can be read here.

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23 October 2015

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People

One glitch: her colleague calls the rescue services…

She could have quite simply said her car had broken down, but she chose paragliding as an excuse to not attend a meeting.

An investigation is currently underway involving charges against the 34yr old female Austrian.  Having alerted her work colleague that she had landed in a tree in the Gaisberg Massif near Salzburg, the pilot thought she had found the perfect alibi.  However, distressed at the news, the work colleague then called the emergency rescue services who were immediately started a search in the area.  But all in vain.

The rescue ooperation had immobilised 18 Search & Rescue officers who, not sharing the same sense of humour as the young woman, later filed charges against her with local police  for “deliberately simulating an emergency mountain rescue situation”.

Needless to say that this kind of hoax could have cost someone else their life; Between the months of May to September this year alone, 115 people lost their lives and 2,385 were injured, reports the Mountain Rescue team.

Hopefully lesson learned.

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23 October 2015

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World Records

Some of the world’s best XC pilots head for Quixada

Recently we have a seen a surge of some of Europe’s finest cross country pilots heading to Brazil’s Quixadà, home to long distance, record breaking cross-country flights.  November is the month to go, and Italy’s Nicole Fedele is doing just that.

Nicole was last in Quixadà in November 2013 to claim a new female distance world record flying an impressive 376.5km; 40km further than Seiko Fukuoka-Naville had flown the previous year.

The pictures shows Nicole after landing in Barras after her record breaking flight back in 2013.  After much preparation and with her fingers crossed, batteries charged and a new target in mind, Nicole says she is ready to try and flly even farther this time.

Rock the Outdoor wishes Nicole the best of luck, as we follow her progress in the coming weeks.

FAI  Paragliding World Records

If you want to set a world record, here’s how to do it. Check out the rules and regulations on the FAI portal website.

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22 October 2015

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World record

Julien Irilli goes for the world record

French pilot, Julien Irilli, arrives in Brazil in an attempt to break the tandem distance world record, flying a custom NIVIUK Peak 3-36.  As of the 25th October, his progress can be monitored on the following live SPOT link page.

Rock the Outdoor wishes him the best of luck!

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06/09/15

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STOP PRESS!

After Enzogate the Gingate, as noticeable non compliance with CCC certification is brought to attention at the PWC Ager

There are problems with the GIN Boom 10 which seems to have issues with the CCC certifiation rules.  After the Ozonegate could this be the Gingate? It would appear that Gin Gliders or indeed the DHV has not complied to the test certification process for Gin’s comp glider, the Boomerang 10.  Ozone test pilots recently handed over their video to the PWCA organisation, who are currently running a competition in Ager, Spain, clearly outlining the failed attempt to apply 25% brake pressure whilst on full bar during a testing session.

CIVL, DHV and Gin Gliders are yet to release an official statement.

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05/09/2015

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PODCAST news

Gavin McClurg interviews rock-climber Cedar Wright in this fourth episode of podcasts

In Gavin McClurg’s latest podcast, he interviews climber Cedar Wright, prolific world class climber and North Face athlete, film director and producer, who has recently turned his hand to paragliding. The fourth episode of podcasts “Nothing Great Happens Without Risk” is the title of the latest and fourth show in the series. (Photo credit: Jimmy Chin)

Coudbase Mayhem with Cedar Wright

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15/08/2015

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COMPETITION

GIN’s Boom 10 has the edge on the Enzo2

Gin Gliders’ Boomerang 10 steals the show at PWC Disentis Switzerland to come away with 1st and 3rd podiums at the Paragliding World Cup in Disentis. Victorious over Ozone’s Enzo2, Chrigel Maurer won the Overall competition on his Gin Boom 10, 2nd place went to Stefan Wyss (Enzo2), 3rd Michael Küffer (Boom 10). First in the Women’s event was the unstoppable Seiko Fukuoka-Naville on her Enzo2.

Next up for Paragliding World Tour is Ager, Spain 30th August-6th September

Full results of PWC Disentis can be seen here

Find out more about Gin Gliders

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05/08/2015

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COLLISION

British pilot witnesses mid-air collision in Le Grand Bornand, France

UK pilot, Bob Moore, witnessed a mid-air collision above Le Grand Bornand, France in July of this year.   Landing to assist the pilot proved impossible on the steep slope and Bob chose wisely to land in the official landing field below in the village to report the incident.

On the ground, he met the second pilot involved in the collision who fortunately, although painful, only suffered line burns to her legs, but who said that both pilots were equally at fault.  The pilot who threw his reserve was winched to hospital with a broken arm rib and later telephoned Bob to ask him about the collision and video footage.

If you witness a collision and are able to land to assist a potentially injured pilot, make sure you can do safely.  As Bob realised it is not always possible, so landing somewhere safe nearby to call for help is sometimes the best option.

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31/07/2015

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AIRSPACE

Google wants control of low-level airspace

Google wants to define rules on the use of airspace below 500ft, so that their Project Wing delivery drones can operate without collision with other aircraft.

The proposal calls for low-altitude airspace used by any craft in flight, including emergency helicopters, commercial craft, drone other aircraft hobbysists, to continously transmit their identification and position to an Airspace Service Provider, which would then be monitored by computer.

Dave Vos, head of the Google Wing Project, says that the low-altitude airspace is largely unregulated and urges that there is “a lot of business to be done there by using drones for package delivery and other services”.

His request would take the airspace away from air traffic control authorities which would have an immediate effect on Class G airspace.

Read the full report here

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