pre – Europa Turkija

Sveiki,
Kol prisiruosiu rasineliui idedu info is rugpjucio pabaigoj vykusiu varzybu Turkijoje.
Oragnizacija – puiki!
vieta sportui – ideali.
sorry, kad angliskai ir “valdiskai”
… bet veliau tikrai idesiu lietuviska “turistine” versija su foto.

PRE-EUROPEAN PARAGLIDING ACCURACY CHAMPIONSHIP

Location: İnönü/ESKİŞEHİR/Turkey
Steward: Violeta Masteikiene/Lithuania/

Dates: 28 – 30 August 2009

General
Official training and registration 27 August 2009
Contest flying 28 – 30 August 2009
Closing and prize giving ceremony 30 August 2009

Officials
Meet director – Hakan Cici
FAI Steward – Violeta Masteikiene (LT)
Jury president – Jasmin Bolat
Jury Member – Nikki Spence ( UK)
Jury Member – Cafer Velioglu
Chief Judge – Ivaylo Bagomilov (BG)
Event Judge – Adam Hasgul
Pre-event for European paragliding accuracy championship attracted 46 pilots from 9 countries: Turkey, Cyprus, Great Britain, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, FR of Macedonia the Netherlands and Slovenia. Two of the pilots were female. Many countries as Croatia, Lithuania, Japan, Czech Republic, Hungary that were present in Croatia 2009 were missing now, which indicates that we may have more countries next year.
Maximum number of round – 6 was done during the competitions. The weather conditions were good, thus first 5 rounds were finished till 29th August afternoon, with the intention to keep the pilots together until the end of competition. The final round was made 30th August, in the morning.

The Turkish National championship was held 3 days before. Pre European PGA competition was done in a high level with a help of this “test before test”. Main amount of domestic pilots were the same for both competitions, organisation group was the same.
The results in individual category:
Jovanoski Martin M BEST 4 NIKE FYR Macedonia
Simović Dušan M MonteParapro Montenegro
Yildiz Abdullah M Turkusu A Turkey

1.6 Suitability of weather information
The weather information was obtained via internet and was very detailed. In general the weather was quite demanding for the pilots and organisation. Early mornings with zero wind and increasing up to border 7 m/s till 11.30 a.m. Afternoons were on the border also, sometimes over it. Then competition was stopped till conditions got safe again.
Because of the strong thermal activity during the day, early mornings (from 7 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.) and afternoons until sunset (from 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.) were flyable.
Weather temperature during the competition was from 20C in the mornings till 29C early afternoons.
Tents and water were provided for pilots and officials.
Officials got hats from the sun as well.

It is positive that the launch marshal, M. Umut Akturk, is a very experienced meteorologist. He observed the weather during the launch and used to give an advice if needed.

1.7 Suitability of facilities
The Inonu Training canter have excellent conditions for organizing high level international competitions (for example gliding competition “Air games”1997) There are special buildings for headquarters, briefings, cantina and little café serving tea, coffee, sandwiches etc.
Good conditions for pilots and officials staying, barbeque area (was used once for a party during competitions) and a big pool (free).
Pilots had access to internet (one computer), free wireless connection was provided.
Hot tasty meal for a lunch was served every day for free.
It was available to order for pilots “Continental» style breakfasts and diners (the same meal as lunch) for the low price.
There was no vegetarian food and were no vegetarians as well.
In Inonu there are few restaurants but only one was open due to Ramadan. Organisers also warned competitors that the food there wasn’t very good.
Toilets on competition site were located in a nearby landing area.
The Training centre offered accommodation in a renovated camp in rooms with 4-6 beds for competition pilots, and single rooms for officials. More than 300 people can stay in a camp.
The prices of accommodation and meals are very low. Accommodation – 2,5 EU per person, Breakfast- 1 EU, Dinner – 2,5 EU.

1.8 Transportation
Pilots’ transportation from HQ to take off place was organised very well. 3 shuttles from HQ to take off and landing were enough for pilots and officials.

1.9 Training possibilities
The teams had a possibility to train on one official training day. Unfortunately the weather was too windy. But most of the pilots had “training” on Turkish National.

1.12 Pilot assistance
The organisation was helpful and assisted pilots if problems appeared. Pilot assistance at launch was good and the start crew was excellent in general.

1.13 Launch
Excellent conditions ( 230 m) with possibility to take off in all directions except south. The take off was cleaned from the stones and bushes and prepared specially for competition. The preparation zone and start zone decorated with carpets.
From take-off area target are well visible and easy to reach.

The launches happened in pre-determined order. Pilots could prepare themselves behind the take off with a help of two take off assistance. Sometimes the pilots were given more then 1,5 min. (it was mentioned in LR) for the take off because of a strong wind. Air space over the take off was totally free during the competition.
Water was provided for the pilots on take off as well.

1.13 Target
The target was placed in good visibility and easy to reach from take off. Circles marked with calk, all competition areas devised to “official” and “spectators” with a stop line.

The organisation had a good wind speed-recording device and one official was keeping an eye on it during the competition rounds. There was a possibility to give an alarm signal in case the wind exceeded allowed maximum.

Electronic pad worked well. There was a reserve pad at site in case the first one got out of order.

The organisation provided enough trash cans to the take off and target.
The other aircrafts (gliders, hot air balloons, small planes) were flying with coordination from central station. There wasn’t any obstruction or delay because of it.

1.15 Other social events
Because of Ramadan there were not plenty of social events.
The social programme consisted of Barbeque Party on Sunday Night Fever ).

1.16 Total number of scheduled days and number of rounds achieved:
There were 3 scheduled flying days. The competition with maximum of 6 rounds was completed during the flying days. One round with 46 pilots used to take about 1–1,5 hour.

Vilnius, 4th September 2009-09-04
Violeta Masteikiene