Sports rules for overflight competitions held by the paragliding association LAA ČR        

1. General information

1.1. Types of competitions

Competitions announced and supported by the paragliding association LAA ČR:

League competition (hereinafter referred to as League), Championship of the Czech Republic in paragliding (hereinafter referred to as MČR)

1.2. Conditions for organizing competitions

The dates of the competitions must be published well in advance and their holding must be approved by the Sports Commission (hereinafter referred to as SK). The organizer will publish the proposal of the competition on its website or in another suitable way via the Internet (for example, on the website of the PG Association) no later than 1 month before the competition is held. The organizer will publish the form or email address for contestants to register no later than 1 month before the competition. The organizer will publish the list of registered competitors and will keep the list as up-to-date as possible. The organizer accepts a pilot into the competition who fulfills the conditions according to point 1.3 and pays the entry fee by the specified date. Other conditions may be specified by the SK within the framework of the tendering process for competition organizers.

1.3. Conditions of participation of competitors

The pilot must comply with the SFD operating rules, flying rules and other legal regulations with regard to the country of the event.

A pilot who has been expelled from the LAA ČR will not be admitted to competitions announced by the PG Association during the period of expulsion.

A must have pilot

• a valid pilot's license corresponding to the category of the paraglider on which he will participate in the competition
• a valid technical license of the paraglider on which he will participate in the competition or a valid technical inspection for a parachute older than two years
• liability insurance
• rescue (reserve) parachute and helmet
• a mobile phone or walkie-talkie placed within reach of the pilot in flight or during an emergency landing
• possibly an FAI license if the race regulations require it

1.3.1. Qualification for the Czech Championship

A pilot qualifies for the MČR by fulfilling one of the conditions listed below:

• He was placed in the 50% ranking in the ČPP in the previous season.
• He placed in 90% of the rankings in the XC League the previous season.
• He placed in the 90% ranking at the MČR XC in the previous season.

1.4. Scope

These competition regulations are valid from April 15, 2024, and apply to the competitions listed in point 1.1. and to competitions that refer to these sports regulations in their rules/proposals. Issues that are not covered by this regulation are assessed according to the valid version of the “FAI sporting code no.7” and the FAI General Section. In the event of a conflict between these rules and FAI guidelines, these competition rules will prevail.

1.5. Entry fee:

The entry fee must include:

• charges for the use of take-off and landing areas
• processing and announcement of results
• export of competitors and their equipment to the start if possible
• pick-up of competitors from the track to the venue of the competition (HQ)

2. Administration

2.1. Competition officials

2.1.1. Competition Director

He answers for the organization of the competition, for correct scoring, for the verification of achieved results and records and for compliance with safety rules from the point of view of the organization of the competition. He is also responsible for the organization at the start if he does not appoint a responsible representative. It hears complaints and makes decisions. He is entitled to choose his representative and other assistants. After the completion of the competition rounds that he organized, he backs up the track-logs and together with the unofficial results and listed disciplines, in case of unresolved protests, the SK sends them to the LAA ČR.

2.1.2. Committee of pilots - Task committee

Its members are elected representatives of competing pilots. The choice is made by public vote of the contestants at the first briefing of the competition. Interested pilots apply to be included in the commission during registration. Based on information about the weather conditions, the pilot committee proposes a flight assignment to the competition director. The pilot committee consists of three to five members and should include at least one pilot with knowledge of the local situation.

2.1.3. Safety commission - Safety commission

Its members are elected representatives of competing pilots. The choice is made by public vote of the contestants at the first briefing of the competition. Interested pilots apply to be included in the commission during registration. The commission consists of three to five members and has the right to stop or cancel the round in case of dangerous flight conditions. He has veto power over the construction of the track.

2.2. Briefing

The competition director (assistant) conducts a briefing before each flight task. It must contain complete meteorological and operational information, necessary to fulfill the flight task. The flight task (task) must be written on the information board (task board), which will be placed in the start area. At least at the first briefing, the competition director (assistant) will alert the pilots to the airspace in the flight area. The competition director (assistant) can define the prohibited airspaces or the height limit of the flight at the briefing. He always does this by marking on the information board with the flight task using pre-defined waypoints, marking on the map or in another suitable way. The competition director (assistant) is obliged to specify at each briefing when and where the next briefing will take place. The competition director (assistant) is obliged at least at the first briefing before the flight task to announce the place and time of downloading the tracklogs if the system is not used logging the tracklog to the server (eg: xcontest, livetracking, etc.). The contestant is obliged to attend the briefings.

2.3. Responsibility of pilots

All pilots are responsible for following the competition rules and flying rules according to the applicable guidelines. Pilots participate in the competition at their own risk.

2.4. Complaints and protests

• The purpose of the complaint is to remedy a breach of these Sporting Regulations or the FAI Sporting Regulations committed by the organizers or other competitors during the competition.
• It is given to the director of the competition orally within 1 hour after the publication of the preliminary results.
• The complaint must be dealt with promptly.
• If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint, he can submit a protest to the competition director together with a deposit of CZK 400. The complaint is submitted in writing (possibly also electronically - by email). The complaint must be filed as soon as possible, but no later than before the briefing on the following flight day. These protests are resolved by the director with the SK representative.

• If the complainant is not satisfied with the result of the protest, he is entitled to lodge a protest at the race.
• The protest at the race is handled by SK LAA ČR. It is submitted by email to the address sk@svazpg.cz. The deposit for filing a protest is CZK 2000. The deadline for submission is within 7 days after the end of the race.

• Deposits for protests are returned to the pilot if the protests are recognized as justified.

3. Equipment

3.1. Definition of Paraglider (PK)

A paraglider is a non-motorized aircraft of heavier air, whose take-off is carried out by the pilot's take-off and the character of the bearing surface is not determined by a rigid structure.

3.2. PK loss and damage

In the event of loss or damage of a PK beyond repairability in local conditions, the competition director may authorize the exchange of a PK for an identical type or a type belonging to the same performance category. Permission can be requested additionally if the competition director is not present at the start and there is a risk of delay. However, the pilot must always notify the assistant responsible for the operation at the start of the change of glider. In justified cases, the exchange of PK is permitted in principle.

3.3. Insurance

The pilot must be legally insured against damages caused to a third party. The organizer of the competition abroad must require insurance valid in the country of the event. If the competition is held outside the territory of the Czech Republic, it is recommended that the pilot have medical expenses insurance valid in the country in question.

3.4. Other equipment

• Only water or sand can be a load that can be removed in flight.
• Fixed load must be an integral part of the harness in flight.
• A reserve parachute and a helmet are mandatory.

3.5. Use of instruments and GNSS

• The pilot must be equipped with an altimeter and variometer or a combined instrument.
• The pilot must be equipped with at least one device recording the flight path (tracklog) - GNSS, see point 7
• The pilot must be equipped with a mobile phone. In flight, the phone must be within reach of the pilot in case of an emergency landing.
• a radio according to the plant's propositions is recommended

3.6. Advertising

Advertising is allowed if it does not conflict with the relevant laws.

3.7. Identification

• according to the recording device, see item 7.
• according to the livetracking device supplied by the organizer, if the livetracking system is used in the race

3.8. Takeoff weight

The take-off weight is the weight of the pilot (in the case of a tandem pilot and passenger), dressed in trousers, a T-shirt and shoes, the weight of the equipment (seat, helmet, reserve parachute, instruments and additional load) and the weight of the canopy. The weight of the equipment must not exceed 25 kg (28 kg for pilots with a second reserve parachute). The take-off weight must be within the range of the take-off weight of the respective paraglider specified by the manufacturer. In the event that the organizer proceeds with take-off weight control, it may weigh pilots with equipment at registration or at take-off.

4. start

4.1. Start space

The starting area must be clearly marked if there are restrictions on the number of starters or the time they can stay in the starting area. If this is not the case, it is sufficient to define the take-off area for the pilots and participants in the pre-flight briefing. Only competitors preparing for the start, the competition director and his assistants are allowed to enter the starting area. The director of the competition may, after appropriate instructions, allow other persons, such as photojournalists, etc., to enter the starting area. Detailed conditions for determining the start order and the time the pilot stays in the start area will be determined by the organizer depending on the planned task, the dimensions of the starting area and the number of pilots in the competition at the pre-start briefing.

4.2. Time start window

The opening and closing time of the window will be determined by the competition director and marked on the start board. The time during which the window is open must provide enough time for the start (takeoff) of all competitors. The start window must not be opened earlier than 10 minutes after the end of the briefing.  

4.3. Repeat takeoff

The pilot can repeat the start at will within the start time window. However, a repeat takeoff moves it to the end of the order for takeoff (takeoff), if practiced.

4.4. Types of launches

• ground start (race to goal discipline only)
• air launch

The start, including the ground start, is usually defined by passing the border of a virtual circle sector with a given radius (Start Speed ​​Section - SSS), or a physically marked tape. The type of fly-by (entry or departure), radius and position are defined within the discipline announcement.

5. The goal

5.1. Passing the target strip or target sector

The pilot must fly through the virtual target strip in the specified direction or fly into the target sector

5.2. Execution of the target – GOAL

The finish line does not have to be physically marked, the finish line is considered to be a virtual line passing through the finish point defined within the discipline, which is perpendicular to the direction to the last OB. Unless otherwise specified by the organizer, its total length is 400m. The target sector is usually a cylindrical sector (can be conical) with a predefined radius around the target point. Unless the organizer specifies otherwise, the radius of the target sector is 400m.

5.3. End of speed section – ESS

In the task, the sector "end of speed section" - ESS (End of Speed ​​Section) is defined, which is usually ranked as the penultimate sector before the finish line. Its radius must be greater than the radius of the target sector (usually 1000m) if the center of the ESS and the target are at the same point. However, the ESS may not have the same center as the target. When crossing the ESS, the pilot moves to measure the time. However, to get the full number of points from the discipline, the pilot must fly through the finish line or the finish sector (see point 5.2). If the ESS sector is not defined in the discipline, the pilot's time to the finish line is measured.

5.4. Closing the target

The closing time of the finish line is announced at the pilots' briefing. A pilot who crosses the finish line after this time does not earn time points.

5.5. Control

After landing, each pilot is obliged to report to the organizer by the time specified in the briefing (for example, by sending an SMS to a specified retrieval phone number or in another predetermined way), especially when landing outside the destination. In case of landing at the destination, downloading the track record from the recording device, handing over the device for livetracking, uploading the tracklog to a remote server can also be considered as notification to the organizer. These actions are performed by the pilot immediately after landing. The pilot is obliged to land safely within 15 minutes of the closing of the destination, even if he does not arrive at the destination before the closing of the destination. This practice prevents the organization of unnecessary rescue operations.

6. Flights

6.1. Timing

• All timing uses GNSS time (measured to the nearest second).
• The starting time of the pilot is given by the moment:

• detaching the pilot from the ground or flying through the border of the starting sector according to 4.4.
• by opening the window (race to the finish line)
• by opening the launch (air launch)

• The pilot's target time is given by the moment of the valid ESS sector flyover (see point 5.3), if defined. If the ESS sector is not defined, the target time is given by the moment of the passage of the target tape or the target sector.

6.2. Measuring distances

• Distance is calculated by approved evaluation software, the FS program (fs.fai.org) is recommended
• In the case of an incomplete track, the shortest distance reached to this point is subtracted from the length of the route to the unreached turning point or destination.

6.3. Disciplines

6.3.1. Target speed flight - Speed ​​run

Pilots must fly the distance to the designated destination in the shortest possible time. The track is chosen with or without turning points. The start is individual, during the open window.

6.3.2. Race to goal - Race to goal

Pilots fly the route without or with turning points. The start of the pilots is common in the open start window. The first pilot to the finish line is usually the winner.

6.3.3. Free flight

The maximum distance flown in the designated corridor.

6.3.4. Other disciplines

The organizer can include other disciplines in the race, e.g. AAT. The inclusion of such disciplines in the race must be stated in the race regulations and must be approved in advance by the Sports Commission. The organizer must familiarize the pilots with the rules and scoring of these disciplines in the race proposals and at the briefing before the discipline.

6.4. Repeat flight

If the competitor has set out on the track, he may not repeat the flight. Going on the track in this case is understood as flying over the border of the starting sector. Any other local regulation must be announced by the plant manager at the briefing before the given task.

6.5. Landing on a reserve parachute

When landing on a reserve parachute, the pilot is obliged to immediately notify the organizer of his condition and approximate location. The pilot's greatest distance achieved counts towards the task.

6.6. Validity of the discipline - rounds

• The validity of the discipline is determined by the evaluation system approved by the Sports Commission for the given period (setting of GAP parameters).
• The minimum number of scoring pilots in a round necessary for recognition of a round is set at 15. A scoring pilot is also considered a pilot who performed the take-off, but was assigned 0 points by the scoring system.

7. Use of GNSS

7.1. Rules for flight verification using GNSS

Each pilot is responsible for selecting his own GNSS recording device. The pilot is personally responsible for the uninterrupted recording of the flight (tracklog). Pilots must use recording devices that are compatible with the flight verification software in use. The recording device can save waypoints to a file in IGC format. Each IGC file must contain a valid security G-record. A pilot may use multiple recording devices for flight verification and data backup and may submit multiple flight records for review. Of all the flight data properly taken, the one that ensures the best position for the pilot will be recognized. Records cannot be merged. In the case of using a system for remote uploading of the tracklog to the server (e.g. xcontest, livetracking), the pilot must be able to present the recording device with the saved flight record to the organizer. The flight record must be kept in the recording device in case of inspection at least until the briefing on the next flight day.

7.2. Sectors

Competitions will take place based on the use of cylindrical sectors. The radius will usually be 400 m. Physical features on the ground will be taken into account only as a guide. The turning points of the competition will be the points determined by the entered coordinates. It is also possible to use a cylindrical sector of any diameter.

7.3. General verification rules

• If the target is not reached, the end of the flight will be the record point closest to the given target or pivot point (which was not reached), or if the task is an open flight, the end of the flight will be the record point that gives the pilot the best location.
• The verification software will confirm that all points used to verify the flight show the correct time (eg, a specific day, within the task start and end range with the correct start and pivot points chronology.
• The race organizer has the right to reject any entry or part of it if it considers that the data is not true.
• If the task is interrupted (stopped) pilots can be scored up to the time point when the task was stopped minus 5 minutes. Pilots may submit for review an end-of-flight record as the last valid record point that preceded the end of the task, or their best position on the track before the end of the task. Other methods of flight verification will not be allowed in the event of a task stop.
• If it is announced at the briefing, the pilots must sign the take-off confirmation. The pilot who signs the start confirmation is obliged to report after completing the discipline in the manner defined by the organizer, see point 5.5. Failure to do so may result in a penalty.

7.4. Flight Verification

The pilot documents with a GNSS recording device the start, all turning points in a given order and the destination.

7.4.1. Documentation of the starting point, pivot points and destination point

The record must contain a point inside the sector. Before the point (or pair of points) documenting the track point, the recording must contain at least 2 minutes of data and at least 5 points of uninterrupted recording. After the point (or pair of points) documenting the track point, the recording must contain at least 2 minutes of data and at least 5 points of uninterrupted recording. An uninterrupted flight record is one where each successive point is no more than 30 seconds from the previous one. If the evaluator determines that the interruption of the record occurred intentionally due to violation of the restricted area or violation of the maximum permitted height, the tracklog may not be accepted and the pilot may be disqualified for such behavior.

7.4.2. Documentation of failure to arrive at the destination

If the pilot does not reach the destination, the end of the flight is counted as the point of the record that is closest to

unreached waypoint, and for which the record also contains:

• at least 2 minutes of data and at least 5 points of uninterrupted recording before that point
• at least 2 minutes of data and at least 5 points of continuous recording after that point

7.4.3. Starting time measurement

Depending on the declared discipline, the time can be measured from the first or the last crossing of the border of the starting sector.

7.4.4. Target time measurement

The target time is given by the first crossing of the ESS sector boundary, if defined, or by the boundary of the target tape or target sector.

8. Security

8.1. Help

As soon as the pilot lands, he is required to pack the parachute immediately. If the parachute is spread out on the ground, it means "I need help". A pilot who witnesses an accident is obliged, if he has the opportunity, to inform the organizers. A pilot who interrupts a competition flight to assist a pilot in distress will be awarded points as determined by the Competition Director.

8.2. Collision avoidance

The direction of circling in the thermals in the start area in the start sector will be specified by the competition director before each competition day at the pilots' briefing. Each competitor is obliged to follow the rules for avoiding and flying in thermals according to ZL - 1.

8.3. Rescue helicopter

If a rescue helicopter is approaching the area, the pilots are obliged to leave the area immediately.

8.4. Suspension of the start, interruption and cancellation of the round

The contest director can

• suspend the start, due to dangerous conditions at the start. If the start is suspended for a short time, the round does not have to be cancelled

• cancel a round due to unsafe or unsuitable conditions before the first pilot takes off.
• abort a round if some (or all) pilots have taken off, due to unsafe conditions.

An interrupted round will be valid if the time between the start and the interruption is more than one hour for Race to goal. In other cases, at least one hour must have passed since the start of the last pilot, to make the round valid.

8.5. Signaling

Organizers can use the following means for signaling:

8.5.1. Radio means

At least one safety frequency must be designated, on which the organizers inform the pilots about the cancellation or interruption of the round, about the arrival of the rescue helicopter, etc. At the same time, this frequency serves the pilots for reporting accidents. The communication means may be used by the pilots to communicate on the safety frequency only for reporting the situation to the organizational team.

8.5.2. Smoke - light signal, other means.

• red: order to land immediately
• white: round is cancelled

Resources: smokestacks, flares, or a cross (the size of two crossed parachutes) on the ground in the place designated for the briefing.

9. Results

9.1. Preliminary results of the individual round

The organizer is obliged to publish the preliminary results of each competitive round no later than one hour before the first briefing of the following round at the place that was determined at the previous briefing. These results are based only on pilot reports and organizer records. It must contain:

• pilot rank
• the starting number of the pilot
• first and last name of the pilot
• take-off time to the nearest second
• landing time to the nearest second (if the pilot reached the destination)
• distance flown (accurate to hundreds of meters)
• pilot points

If the discipline is the last flight discipline, competitors must be informed at the latest at the pre-flight briefing at what time the preliminary results will be published. If there are difficulties with the evaluation, the organizer can publish new information at the given place at the given hour.

9.2. Unofficial results

The time of publication of unofficial results must be announced by the competition director at the briefing.

9.3. Official results

Official results are published only after all complaints and protests have been resolved on the notice board at the race venue (HQ) or on the organizer's website. The organizer is obliged to send the results by email to sk@svazpg.cz in a machine-processable form (html, pdf, txt format; but not an image or photograph). A score sheet in the format as generated by the FS evaluation software (fs.fai.org) is recommended. The results of the races will also be available later on at the website www.svazpg.cz

10. Scoring

10.1. Points in a single round

The GAP system is used for the MČR competition and league competitions. GAP parameters must be published before the start of the first task and must not be changed during the race. Recommended GAP settings are published on the website www.svazpg.cz. The use of a point system other than GAP must be approved by the Sports Commission before the start of race registration and the pilots must be explicitly notified of this in the race regulations. The alternative points system must always be 1000 points and its full description must be published before the start of race registration in the race propositions (either directly or by linking to another resource with a description).

10.2. Points in the year of the league overall

A certain number of his best-scoring laps are included for each pilot in the overall results of the Czech League. This number is determined based on the total number of runs in the entire league series as follows:

for N <= 3, Z = N

for N > 3, Z = round((N-4)/2)+3

where N is the number of rounds flown

Z is the number of laps counted

round() is a function to round to integers        

see the table for the first 18 rounds flown

11. Titles and category wins

Championship of the Czech Republic

• The organizer is obliged to announce the overall Czech ranking and category of Czech female pilots at the MČR race, if the requirement of a minimum number of 5 pilots in the category is met.
• The title of champion of the Czech Republic goes to the winner of the overall Czech ranking, and the title of Champion of the Czech Republic goes to the winner of the Czech women's ranking.
• In the category of Czech pilots, pilot A) s FAI license issued by the Czech NAC, B) without an FAI license with Czech citizenship or a Czech pilot's license or with permanent residence in the Czech Republic.

Series of Czech League races

• The ranking in the Czech League series is calculated from all rounds played according to the rules specified in point 10.2
• In the overall standings of the Czech League, the categories standard, sport, open and women are declared, if at least 5 pilots (female pilots) compete in the category.
• Only pilots A) with an FAI license issued by the Czech NAC, B) without an FAI license with a valid Czech pilot's license or Czech citizenship or permanent residence in the Czech Republic can place themselves in the overall ranking of the Czech League in any category.
• The pilot's results from the rounds flown on a wing certified in the EN-A or EN-B category are included in the standard order.
• In the sport order, the pilot's results from the rounds flown on the wing of the highest category EN-C are counted.
• All laps flown by the pilot are counted in the open order.

12. Penalty

12.1. a track-log point is missing in the start sector of the GNSS record

0 points in round

12.2. replacement of PK for another without notice

round disqualification

12.3. flying in the cloud

In the event of an inadvertent suction into the cloud, the pilot must prove that the suction occurred unintentionally, by a strong updraft, the force of which the pilot underestimated. The pilot must safely exit the cloud and, outside of the cloud, immediately descend safely below the level of the cloud base, for example by spiraling down or flying on the ears, so that this is evident on the flight log. In the first case of unintentional flight in cloud, the pilot can only be warned. In the event of repeated or intentional flying in cloud, the pilot may be disqualified in the round.

12.4. not respecting the instructions of the director of the starting area in the starting area

warning, disqualification in the round

12.5. incorrect pass through the target strip or sector

loss of time points

12.6. failure to present the GNSS recording device at the specified time

0 points in round

12.7. years after the deadline

0 points in round

12.8. violation of airspace or exceeding the maximum permitted flight height

In the case of violation of the airspace vertically or horizontally or the maximum permitted flight height, the pilot may be penalized, unless otherwise specified in the pre-flight briefing (e.g. flight negotiation in the area with ŘLP). Unless otherwise specified, the GNSS height indicated in the flight record (tracklog) is considered for the purpose of assessing disruption/non-disturbance within the race.

The point penalty is given by the formula:

P = N * ( B / 100 ), for N = 1~100 meters,

P = B, for N > 100 meters,

where P is the number of penalty points in the task

B is the number of points the pilot would have in the task without penalty

N is the maximum space disturbance in meters. The shortest distance to the boundary of the space, horizontal or vertical, whichever is smaller, at the point of maximum disturbance of the space is considered.

12.9. other

In other cases, the organizer sets the penalty in the provisions. If this is not the case, the extent of the penalty is determined in a specific case by the race director together with the pilots' committee - the task committee.

13. Local Rules

In the case of a Czech League and MČR race, the organizer can deviate from the Sports Rules in the local rules of the race. In such a case, the local rules must be approved by the Sports Commission of the PG Association before the race, and at the first briefing of the race, the competition organizer must familiarize the pilots with the rules of the competition in points where they deviate from the Sports Regulations of the PG Association.