Until we get a better handle on which helmets are appropriate for
hang gliding

There was too much controversy about the requirement for EN 966
certified helmets at the Worlds in 2011 (and at the pre-Worlds). This level of
controversy and conflict is not healthy for hang gliding. We are here to have
fun and it is not fun to have these arguments raging at the start of our
competition. Pilots are tired on all the obligations that CIVL places on them
and on meet organizers (which drive up costs and don't seem to accomplish much).

We certainly can't afford to have this controversy continue for the 2012
pre-Worlds in January at Forbes, NSW, Australia. It is way way too close and too
personal and the conflicts which involve the meet organizer regarding this issue
are just too much to bear. We've got to reduce the personal pressures on her if
we expect a successful competition.

Vicki Cain has circulated a petition among pilots and officials at the 2011
Worlds calling for the helmet rule to be suspended for the 2012 pre-Worlds and
she is calling for the appointment of a CIVL Working Group to examine the issue
and report to the Plenary in time for the 2013 Worlds regarding how helmets and
helmet certification is to be handled by CIVL and the meet organizers.

Here is the text of the petition that the vast majority of the pilots, and meet
officials (including the meet steward, Heather Mull) signed:

Petition in favour of suspending the certified helmet rule.

We, the undersigned, petition the CIVL to suspend the Section 7A rule requiring
EN966 certified helmets at Category 1 events. Furthermore, we believe the rule
should not be in force at the Forbes 2012 Pre-Worlds and that the issues
surrounding enforcement of the rule should be reviewed by an appointed working
group and resolved at the CIVL plenary following the report from the working
group.

We believe the following points support our position that the rule should be
suspended:

1. The EN966 certification standards are not available for pilots to review.

2. The current CIVL EN966 rule is ambiguous and open to wide interpretation. For
example, does a helmet have to be certified only at one time, but not be in
certified condition when worn in flight?

3. Because the available certified helmets are viewed by many pilots as not
appropriate, pilots are modifying them to be more suitable for hang gliding. The
modifications made can make and have made the helmets less safe.

4. Those responsible for checking the certification of helmets are not qualified
to judge if common modifications make the helmets more or less safe.

5. It is evident in this competition that some pilots are flying with helmets
that are not certified but display an EN966 label. The current rule encourages
cheating.

Conclusion: A helmet is individual to each pilot and a helmet's safety has no
bearing the safety of others. For the above reasons this rule is not
contributing to the safety of competitions in any significant manner and as such
should not be enforced for the Forbes 2012 Pre-Worlds or any Category 1 event
until these issues have been resolved at the plenary.

If you support this petition, please email Vicki Cain <<vicki>>
with your support and copy your email to her to your CIVL delegate.