http://p-m-a.info/news/article/the-en-norm-and-wg6-must-be-saved.html

The EN-Norm and WG6 must be saved

The PMA is concerned that the EHPU (union of the European pilot associations),
encouraged by the DHV, has withdrawn the current funding for the further
development of the EN norms for paragliding.

This is undermining the development and improvement of what is currently used by
the world-wide paragliding community as THE internationally acknowledged safety
and certification standard. The PMA members see the EN standards for paragliding
as the only realistic and least confusing way to objectively certify wings
within our sport. The EN standards for paragliding are not perfect and current
concerns show we have to improve them further and that needs funds and voluntary
work.

These EN standards are developed and improved by international groups of
experts, consisting of pilot associations, test laboratories and manufacturers
rather than being dominated by only one expert (the DHV) as happened before the
international agreements on these EN standards were formed. The further
developments of EN standards are first discussed within the national
standardization institutions like AFNOR, BS, DIN and after these proposals are
amalgamated to one joint document within the European working group WG6 where
each participating country has one vote. Only when unanimity is reached the
changes are incorporated to form the revised new EN standard.

The PMA is asking all pilots to voice their concerns to their national
associations to make them fully support the further development of the EN
standards for paragliding.

For more information read the call to action the FFVL has made
here.

http://p-m-a.info/news/article/public-statement-of-the-members-of-the-paraglider-manufacturers-association-pma.html