Practice Day & Compulsory Pilots’ Briefing @ 19.00:   Wed. 11^th December 2013 (mandatory)

Competition Days:                                                               12^th – 21^st December 2013

Prize giving:                                                                          Sat. 21^st December 2013 – time/venue t.b.a.

Bulletin 2:

1.        Thank you for your entries – you can see your fellow competitors on www.soaringspot.com

2.        Remember 11^th December is a mandatory practice flying day, so you should be there flying and not pitching up just in time for the mandatory briefing after flying! 

3.        Mandatory Pilots’ Briefing will be held in the Terminal Building at 19.00 followed by a supper (no charge).

4.        Please note that the main hangar at Welkom is for the use & hangarage of the tug aircraft.  Gliders without trailers, or with open trailers will be allowed, if space permits, to use the hangar.  All other gliders should NOT assume they may park in the hangar.  Further hangarage, if there is sufficient space available, will be charged at R30 per day on a 1^st come 1^st served basis.  N.B. You all have serviceable trailers and if the weather is suspect, you can easily de-rig the gliders and put them safely and securely in their trailers.

5.        Local procedures have been updated, so v.2 is on the SSSA website www.sssa.org.za and attached.  N.B. when arriving at Welkom, please ensure that all gliders and towing vehicles are kept clear and outside of the yellow lines demarcating the fueling area.  Fuel is now available at the airfield.

6.        Handicaps – a new handicapping system was tried & tested at the September 2013 North West Regionals, with comparisons being run against the old system.  The new handicaps were considered to be successful, deemed easier to understand, approved by the CompCom (competition committee) and will be used. 

7.        Turnpoints – as used previously are on the SSSA website.

http://sssa.org.za/index.php/download/viewcategory/8-nationals-2013-competition-docs-forms-and-info

8.        A few volunteers have been found to assist with some of the tasks.  There may also be an occasional gliding type visiting, who might offer to help, but this should not be relied upon.  We would therefore ask that you all help each other, especially at the runway with getting the gliders pushed onto the runway, hooking up ropes, running wings, etc.   You will all need to get and be organised well before launching commences. 

To expect the helpers to run around after you all just for the ‘fun of it’ is not fair, so those of you with no crew and taking advantage of their assistance, would be asked to contribute R500 each.

9.        All overseas competitors should have made arrangements by now for their S.African licence validations.

10.     All pilots require an FAI competitor’s license for 2013 as this is a requirement for the Nationals, which is an IGC ranked contest.

11.     Camping is possible on the airfield at no charge.  There are adequate basic ablution facilities. There are numerous Bed & Breakfast/Guest House establishments in Welkom – by choice, you want to select on the western side of town, which is closer to the airfield.  A guest house owner in Welkom, contacted Ian -   www.rhinosrest.co.za the contact person is Audra, with contact details on the website.  Look at the map - perhaps a little far out from the airfield!  Also Google ‘Welkom Accommodation’ and find various options and websites.

12.     There will be catering at the airfield from 11^th December. 

13.     Tow fees:  (unfortunately these have increased slightly because of further increases in fuel prices since budgeting was done)

·          Club class (aerotow below 450kg)                                          R396.00

·          15m-18m  (aerotow below 600kg)                                          R484.00

·          Open (aerotow below 850kg)                                                 R539.00

14.     Contest officials are:

Contest Director:            Ian Buchanan                 Safety Officer:        Laurens Goudriaan

Meteorology:                  Sven Olivier                     Scoring:                   Peter (Boris) Wyld

I/C Task Setting:             Oscar Goudriaan             I/C Tugs:                 Connie Conradie

Admin/finance:                Carol Clifford

Do you know of anyone, possibly pilots in the Johannesburg area, who would like their car driven to Worcester – leaving Jbg. prior to New Year’s Eve arriving in Worcester early New Year?  Please let me know a.s.a.p.

Safe travels from the various points of the globe – see you in Welkom.

All Communications please to:  Carol – bobcar@global.co.za