USHPA BOD allows competition class paragliders in US
competition

On Thursday the USHPA BOD met on a conference call to
discuss how to respond to John Aldridge's statement:

Organisers of FAI Category 2 events are also strongly advised to
consider whether Competition Class paragliders should be permitted to compete in
events with racing tasks for the period of the suspension.

This is their response:

Following two fatalities and a number of reserve deployments at
the FAI World Paragliding Championships in Piedrahita, Spain last week, the CIVL
Bureau voted to ban competition-class paragliders from Category 1 sanctioned
events. The CIVL ban is effective immediately. At the same time, CIVL issued a
recommendation (see below) to its member national associations to consider
whether to extend the ban to Category 2 events. USHPA has followed the CIVL
recommendation and considered whether to extend the ban to Category 2 events. In
its consideration, USHPA consulted with meet organizers, competition pilots and
other experts.

After reviewing the circumstances leading up to CIVL’s actions, USHPA has
determined that, while the pattern of accidents at CIVL Category 1 events that
apparently lead CIVL to ban competition class paragliders at those events should
not be ignored, there is no evidence to indicate that the accident rate for
competition class paragliders in USHPA sanctioned events is materially higher
than the rate of accidents for serial class and other certified wings. USHPA
will continue to allow competition class paragliders to compete in USHPA
sanctioned Category 2 events. However, USHPA will require all pilots intending
to fly in these events to participate in a mandatory special safety seminar at
each sanctioned competition prior to the start of the event. These seminars are
intended to fully disclose what is known about the inherent risks involved in
flying competition class paragliders and discuss ways pilots can mitigate these
risks. Pilots flying competition class paragliders will be required to have
minimum levels of experience. All pilots participating in these competitions
will be required to agree to the USHPA release, waiver and assumption of risk
agreement on video and represent that they have the required piloting skills and
understand these risks.

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