Annual CIVA Conference report back
After the past few years of virtual conferences, this year’s annual CIVA Plenary conference was held in Lausanne Switzerland over the weekend of 12-13 November 2022, the first in person meeting since the COVID pandemic. Some 25 nations were represented. These meetings usually begin on a Friday with a meeting of the CIVA Bureau, the executive core of the organisation, followed by a semi formal dinner in the evening. Non-Bureau delegates were hosted to an excursion to the Lausanne Air Museum that afternoon. The conference sessions on Saturday and Sunday had to be extended due to some robust discussions over issues affecting CIVA contests, finishing well after the scheduled closure.
So, the real discussions kicked off on the Saturday morning with a detailed briefing from the FAI Secretary General Markus Haggeney who reported on the status of the significant changes made at the FAI over recent years. There had been a major overhaul of management a few years back after experiencing financial haemorrhaging and it seems that the interventions have borne positive results.
It was clear from the reports and debates that aerobatic activities have been radically affected by
- The Russia – Ukraine war
- COVID restrictions
- The economy
Some of the decisions taken at the conference include;
1. Free Known figures for 2023, with the following sets being selected;
2. The relegation of the Yak52 competition format to a Category 2 event. International contests will continue to be held in the Intermediate category though but expect some changes to the pilot qualification and aircraft use.
3. Future Contests
- The bid from Italy to host European Aerobatic Championship 2023 was provisionally accepted. The likely venue is Pavullo from 8-16 September 2023.
- The revised bid from Lithuania to host the World Glider Aerobatic Championship 2023 was rejected. Poland have indicated that they are willing to consider hosting the event. Dates and venue to be confirmed.
- The revised bid from the USA to host World Advanced Aerobatic Championship was accepted. Venue to be Las Vegas with revised dates 24 October 2023 to 4 November 2023.
- A bid from Romania to host the European Intermediate Championships 2023 is pending approval by the bureau. Venue is Deva with dates to be advised.
4. Special Events
Approval given to South Africa to host the SkyGP in Durban in June 2023.
5. Rule changes
- a. Additional figures permitted for Unlimited programmes 2,3 and 4;
7.4.2.3
7.4.2.4
b. two flick rolls per figure will be permitted, for maximum two figures for Unlimited programmes 2, 3 and 4.
c. Gender distinction in Unlimited power aerobatic programmes to be removed.
d. The Chief Judge now has the power to veto any video review, and confirm a HZ if necessary.
e. The score grade of a PZ has been discontinued. A revision of the judging criteria will need to be done to replace decisions where a PZ was previously applicable.
6. Election of CIVA officials
President: Nick Buckenham
Vice presidents: Matthieu Roulet FRA
Hanspeter Rohner SWI
Tamas Abranyi HUN
Jerzy Makula POL
Rules Committee: Mattieu Roulet (Chair), Hanspeter Rohner, Pierre Varloteaux, Phillipe Kuchler, Pekka Havbrandt, Mike Heuer.
Judging Committee: Pierre Varloteaux (Chair), Quintin Hawthorne, Steve Todd, Mike Gallaway, Mady Delcroix, Alex Moore.
Glider: Pekka Havbrandt (Chair), Mady Delcroix, Ferenc Toth, Phillipe Kuchler, Jerzy Makula, Phillipe Hilker.
ICT: Ringo Massa (Chair), Eduardo Bolster , Vladimir Machula, Chris Sills, Karri Kempi.
Catalogue: Jim Bourke (Chair), Nick Buckenham, Leone Gambardella, Aarron Deliu, Eduardo Bolster, Cyrial Talon.
7. Election of Championship Officials
1. WGAC – Poland
Jury: Phillipe Kuchler, Mady Delcroix, Ferenc Toth
Chief Judge: Vladimir Machula
2. WAAC – USA
Jury: Mike Heuer, Tamas Abranyi, Pierre Varloteaux.
Chief Judge: Nick Buckenham
3. EAC – Italy
Jury: Pierre Varloteaux, Pekka Havbrandt, Steve Todd.
Chief Judge: Nick Buckenham
4. EIAC – Romania
Jury: Jerzy Makula, Guy Auger, Quintin Hawthorne
Chief Judge: Nick Buckenham
Next Plenary meeting: Krakow, Poland in November 2023
Quintin Hawthorne
16 November 2022
