http://corinnaflies.blogspot.de/

Nichele Roberto <<roberto.nichele>>
sends:

(DHV) website for the German Open
here.

The local rules (PDF)
here.

"Airworthy glider with valid type test (airworthiness certificate)..."

A German pilot who bought a T2C 144 from me this year called upset that they
won't allow him to attend the meet. Not totally sure if this applies to foreign
pilots too. Could be explained with insurance issues.

Steven Pearson<<Steve>>
writes:

The 154 is DHV certified, the 144 isn’t. The DHV is protecting the
revenue stream from their certification program to the detriment of the German
pilots—so much for the ‘EU’. Mike can give you the historical details ad nauseum.

Mike Meier<<Mike>>
writes:

This is a complex issue with a long history. In brief, here’s what
I can tell you about it.

The U2 160, T2C 154 and Sport 2 155 have been issued the Gütesiegel by the DHV
Technical Department, which is an approved testing center for hang gliders and
paragliders for the LBA (German Civil Aviation Authorities), signifying that
these gliders meet the German LTF Airworthiness Standards for hang gliders.

Wills Wing has not applied for LTF certification for any of our remaining
current production models. In the case of the three models for which we have
obtained LTF certification, we did so in each case because our dealers selling
into the German market believed that having the LTF certification would increase
sales. We have not found any clear indication that this has been the case. The
process of obtaining LTF certification in addition to HGMA certification, which
all of our current production models (except the Condors) have, is significantly
burdensome and expensive, and completely redundant from an airworthiness
perspective.

With regard to the insurance issue, and restrictions on flying gliders in
Germany that do not have the Gütesiegel, I am far from expert on these issues.
As I understand the law in Germany, based on my visit there in 2008 and a
discussion with someone who is familiar with all of the legal issues, if you are
living in Germany at least 180 days out of the year, it is (technically) illegal
to fly a hang glider without the Gütesiegel. It is my understanding that to do
so is not considered any sort of serious crime or offense, but technically, it
is illegal. Also, if one is flying a hang glider without the Gütesiegel, then
one is not covered by the 3rd party liability insurance (which would pay if, for
example, you crashed your glider into someone's car and damaged it). One's
personal insurance, such as medical insurance, is NOT affected by whether you
fly a glider with, or without the Gütesiegel, as I understand it.

However, there is also a European law that says that if an aircraft has a type
certificate in one European country, then another European country cannot demand
a different certificate. A number of Wills Wing models that do not have the
German Gütesiegel do hold Austrian Type Certificates, based on the Austrian
acceptance of the HGMA certification. It is therefore at least somewhat
uncertain as to the legal standing or validity of any German law that requires
specifically a German certification.

Over the last 30 years there have been many significant attempts to negotiate
recognition within Germany for the other major hang gliding certification
programs – HGMA and BHPA (British). None of these attempts has yet been
successful – within Germany, only the LTF certification is recognized as valid.
Over that same time period there has been ample opportunity to observe the
safety record of gliders that have been certified under one airworthiness
program and not under the others. There has been no indication during this time
of any difference in safety between gliders certified under one program versus
those certified under another program. A detailed comparative analysis of the
HGMA and LTF certification programs has shown that both programs are very
similar in the manner in which they define and test for hang glider
airworthiness, and that where the programs do differ in technical matters, the
HGMA airworthiness standards are in fact more valid from a technical standpoint
than are the LTF standards.

The FAI Sporting Code Section 7A defines a certified hang glider as follows:

12. 2.2.1 Certified Gliders

Hang gliders of a make and model for which there is airworthiness approval
issued by either the BHPA, DHV or HGMA and which have not been altered in any
way since manufacture that would affect this certification. Sprogs must be set
within the certified range.

The FAI and CIVL therefore recognize HGMA and BHPA certification for the
purposes of competition as equivalent to German certification. It is
unfortunate, and seems without any rational justification that a German pilot
has been denied the opportunity to compete in a competition in his home country
on an HGMA certified glider.