Funding for Junior Development
Gliding Australia is running a coaching program focussed on developing a strong Junior Squad for the Junior World Gliding Championships (JWGC) to be held at Lake Keepit in January 2029. Gliding Australia will match the funding contribution of selected candidates in regard to coaching and pilot development.
Craig Vinall
Chair Soaring Development Panel
To be eligible, candidates must have been born after 31 March 2003 to meet the age requirement for the JWGC. Candidates are also expected to have flown solo in single-seat gliders and be progressing toward qualifying for their GPC by the end of the 25/26 season.
The funding is provided in addition to the commitment that the Juniors will be making to their normal training and flying. It will focus on assisting with competition and cross-country skills via coaching flights approved by the RSDM (Regional Soaring Development Manager).
Events that will be considered for funding assistance are participation in State and National Competitions, State Coaching Events, Regattas and specific coaching as approved by the RSDM.
Funding is provided on a matching basis in which the pilots fund half the costs themselves for the following:
- Entry fees
- Glider hire and towing
- Accommodation and transport
Please contact your RSDM, or the Australian Junior Gliding Club at https://www.juniorsoaring.org to express interest.
Those attending this year’s JoeyGlide will have an opportunity to see if they qualify for this program.
New OGN Stations – Filling in the Gaps
Most gliding clubs in Australia now have a working OGN station. However, the coverage in areas we fly over is not complete – there are annoying gaps. As a result, we are initiating a project that aims to identify and fill gaps around Australia, ensuring improved tracking and safety capabilities for our gliding community.
For example, the map to the right shows gaps in the South Australian coverage. The red circles mark desirable locations where we would benefit from additional OGN stations. Similar gaps exist in other states as well, where most of these locations do nor have any gliding clubs nearby.
Therefore, we will need to apply some creativity to finding new sites where we can mount an antenna as high as possible.
One solution may be the use of decommissioned wheat silos. They normally have power connected and, of course, would be more than high enough for the antenna. This solution has already been used at one installation in Victoria.
A team has been put together to identify gaps and potential sites, and to make enquiries to see if we can install modular OGN equipment. These sites will be jointly funded by Gliding Australia and State Regional Groups. Hopefully we can soon fill in the gaps.
Changes to Claiming Australian Records Flown Overseas
Our current procedures for claiming record flights flown overseas need updating. They currently allow 6 months after notification to file the claim forms. This is from the era of snail mail and is out of step with current IGC rules. If this change will affect you, please submit any outstanding claim forms.
Soaring Development Levy
National and State gliding championships sanctioned by the organising clubs of Gliding Australia are reminded that a levy applies to each competitor, or each pair of pilots for a two seat glider. The levy is $83 for each senior National pilot and $31 for each competitor in a State competition. The levy for junior pilots is 50% of the senior levies. These fees do not apply to other competitions such as club regattas.
The levees collected are invested in a discrete fund and the revenue generated is used to help Australian pilots representing Australia in World Championships.
Organisers need to ensure that they budget for these levees when setting entry fees for both National and State Championships.
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