Windrushers Gliding Club

The Bicester Regionals 2007  -  21st to 29th July 2007

Local Regulations   (All times BST)

1. The Competition will be conducted in accordance with the Rules for BGA Rated Competitions 2007 as amplified or varied by these local Regulations. The BGA Competition Rules can be downloaded from the BGA website, www.gliding.co.uk, and it is recommended that all competitors study this document prior to the Competition

2. All competitors must have a current FAI Competition Licence, which can be obtained from the BGA.

3. There will be two task groups; gliders with a BGA handicap of 100 or greater will compete in the Open Class, while those with a handicap of 99 or less will be in the Sport Class.  While the handicap split between the classes will be as stated, those pilots flying gliders with a handicap of 99 or 100 can opt to compete in the other class if they so wish.   This option must be declared by the completion of Registration period at 0930hrs on Sat, 21st July 2007.   Each task group will be scored separately according to the BGA Regional Championship rules using a BGA approved See You script.

4. Competitors may register in Control from 1700 to 2200 on Friday 20th July 2007 and from 0800 to 0930 on Saturday, 21st July 2006.   Registration must be completed by 0930, Saturday, 21st July 2007.

5. A blank registration form can be downloaded from the Windrushers web site, www windrushers.org.    Blank registration forms will also be available when booking in.  All pilots must complete and sign a Windrushers GC Temporary Membership Form during the registration hours, unless they are already a member of the WGC.

6. The launch fee is £24 for an aerotow to 2000ft above Bicester during the competition. All launch fees will be paid on account.   Accounts are to be settled prior to leaving the site at the end of the Competition

7. The boundary of the airfield for competition purposes is defined as the outer edge of the perimeter track. Where there is a break in the perimeter track in the south east quadrant, the boundary is defined as a straight line joining the two outer edges of the existing perimeter track. The entire grass area bounded by the perimeter track is available for landing although it is little rough in places where the field drains have subsided. Pilots are to exercise care during landing and are to clear the airfield area as soon as possible.

8. Two grids, each 6 gliders wide will be set up on the downwind airfield boundary. Each glider will be allocated a row number between 1 and 7 which will be retained for the whole competition. The first glider to arrive at the grid area is to be positioned on the appropriate side of the numbered row marker, close to the marker. Subsequent gliders in the same row arriving at the grid are to be positioned outboard of the previous glider in each row. The grid will be compressed at a specified time by closing up rows towards the rear row positioned just inside the perimeter track. This is done for flight safety reasons to maximise the take off distance available. Once the grid has been compressed, any competition gliders arriving at the grid are to be positioned to one side and will be launched after the main grid. They will not be taken into account when determining the opening of the start line. The launch master will select the order of launching of gliders in each row depending on which tug is available. All competitors are to ensure that release checks are carried out before the rope to be used for the launch is given to the pilot's crew for hooking on.

9. All turning points will be selected from the BGA 2007 List of Turning Points.  The Start Zone type will be the semi-circle as defined in Para 19.1.1 of the 2007 Rules for BGA Rated Competitions with the Start Point based on the coordinates of BIC, BNW, BIE, BI1, BI2 or BI3 as briefed.  The Finish Point and Finish Procedure is designated in the next paragraph.

10. Finishing will be controlled by entering a Finish Ring of  600m radius centered on a point on the airfield such that the circumference of the finish ring co-incides with the perimeter track.   The designation of the Finish Point is BI4 and the co-ordinates are N51 54.985', W001 07.885'. 

11.  In accordance with the 2007 BGA Competition Rules, the minimum height for all flight outside and when crossing the airfield boundary is 50 feet AGL.   Exception is only given in the event of outlanding and an emergency straight-in approach where it is not possible to maintain safe airspeed to give the required ground clearance – FR evidence from the final 500’ of altitude consumed will be used to verify any deliberate misuse of energy management that leads to flight below the minimum limit.   Such proven cases may be penalised.   Approaches to the finish ring should exhibit a descending profile.

12.  Competitors carrying out a high energy finish must cross the finish ring at 50 feet AGL or above and are to maintain the finish ring crossing height while transiting the airfield before executing a go around circuit as directed by the Finish Marshall.   Excess energy is to be utilised in a safe and expeditious manner  to enter a normal circuit, with due regard to other circuit traffic.   Failure to adhere to these finish procedures will be penalised.

13.  The airfield will be divided into two halves by a line of white markers designating the runway direction in use.   Competitors landing straight ahead after crossing the finish ring will land one side of the markers, while those carrying out high energy finishes will land on the other side.   Once a finishing glider has crossed the finish ring, it is not to cross from one side of the markers to the other except for safety reasons.  This circuit procedure will be briefed at the Daily Briefing and co-ordinated on 130.100MHz by the designated finish line marshal.   Low level finishes over built up areas, the hangars, campsite and trailer park are to be avoided.   Crews are to ensure that they remove their glider from the landing area as soon as possible after landing.  All competitors are reminded of CAP393 Air Navigation Order Section 2, Rules of the Air Article 5 (low flying rule) and CAP393 ANO Section 1, Article 74 which states: “A person shall not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property”.

14. The radio frequencies in use during the Competition will be:
Tugs and Launch Control: 129.975MHz
Start and Finish: 130.100 MHz

15. Competitors returning for a relight are to make an advisory call downwind on 129.975MHz and then vacate the landing area as soon as possible.

16. The first briefing will be at 1000 on Saturday, 21st July 2007.  The grid location will be announced at 0900 each day, including the first day, and gliders are to grid before the task briefing at 1000 hrs if so requested.

17. All IGC approved Flight Recorders will be acceptable.  It should be noted that the BGA Competition Rules require motor gliders and gliders with enabled turbos to use only IGC Approved GPS Flight Recorders with an Engine Noise Level (ENL) detector.  If a turbo glider is competing with the turbo disabled, then prior to the first launch, the pilot is to advise the Competition Director of the means used to disable the turbo.  Competitors with enabled turbos will be required to carry out a short 30 second engine run prior to making a start on the first day.   Thereafter, they will not normally be required by the organization to run their turbos before starting.  All pilots who have used turbos/self launchers to self retrieve must state this when handing in their flight recorders to Control.

18. The Control telephone numbers will be 07986 048826 and 01869 252493. Pilots who land out are required to telephone control as soon as possible after landing and again when the pilot and crew have met up. This is a mandatory procedure for flight safety reasons and is to assist the Director in accounting for all gliders flying from the site at the end of the day.

19. The following free fall parachute zones are prohibited airspace for the duration of the competition and pilots will be penalised for any incursion, Weston on the Green, Hinton in the Hedges, Langar and Peterborough/Sibson. The status of other parachute zones will be given at briefings.

20. The master reference for controlled airspace for the Competition is the CAA 1:500,000 scale map, 2171CD, Edition 33 published on 15 March 2007. All Competitors are to have a copy of this map and are required to carry it on all competition flights.   A copy of this map can be purchased in Control.