How to become an OO

New Official Observers and How to Become One

Happy New Year, Pilots!

The year has started with less-than-ideal weather, but we’re thrilled to share some good news.
​Two "new" Official Observers (OOs) have recently completed their training: Martyn Cook and Stewart Barton.
​We know very well they both are not exactly “new” to any of this stuff: they underwent a refresher on updates from the past few years, took the test, and passed with flying colors.

Congratulations, Martyn and Stewart!

What Is an Official Observer?

Becoming an Official Observer (OO) is one of the most accessible ways to volunteer and contribute to Gliding New Zealand. As an OO, your primary role is to assist your club members in achieving their FAI-recognised soaring performances, but opportunities may arise to help at competitions, camps, or courses. It's also an excellent way to deepen your understanding of the FAI IGC rules, which can benefit your own pursuits—whether for FAI badges, national records, or even world records.

Who knows where your involvement might lead?

Interested in Becoming an OO?

If you’d like to become an Official Observer, please reach out to the Awards Officer, Bruno, at [email protected] or call 022 644 1495. Don’t hesitate to send a simple email like, “Hi, I’m interested in learning more. How does it work?”

The short answer is simple: let us know you’re interested, we’ll send forms to your CFI, and you’ll take an open book test supervised by them.

To support candidates, I’ve created a series of assignments designed to:

1. 1.Help you locate and understand relevant information.
2. 2.Address common misconceptions about the role.
3. 3.Familiarize you with common pitfalls that can invalidate otherwise successful flights.
   ​

Assignment 1: https://forms.gle/yZ6ffEjCCWPsrQuQ8

Assignment 2a: https://forms.gle/gCi7C9e4oFxNA2ps5

Assignment 2b: https://forms.gle/FSFWJPJ8SKWd6Fgj8
​

Important: if you take one/more assignments, let me know - Google Forms doesn’t notify me when new answers are posted.

Good flights to all,
​Bruno Tagliapietra
​GNZ Awards Officer

Murray Wardell's speed record

Last month we noted Murray's new speed record. For those who want a bit more insight into how you achieve a speed record, below is Muarray's write up.

New NZ Record D13G 100Km Out & Return 117.15 kph beats current 108.03kph.

When claiming a record flight there is an option for the pilot to submit a narration of the flight with any relevant information to support the claim. I always take this opportunity, as for me, it helps put the flight in context and draws attention to the Official Observer (O.O.) and subsequently to the Awards Officer any pertinent aspects of the flight / claim. [Reproduced here for general interest].

Pilot Narration for Murray Wardell for NZ Record D13 General Speed around a 100Km FAI Out & Return on Friday 22nd November, 2024 in PW-5 ZK-GAT from Matamata.

Pilot: Murray Wardell

Glider: PW-5 ZK-GAT from Matamata in standard configuration adhering to 13.5 metre wingspan criteria.

Pre-flight tasks:

• Emailed O.O. (Official Observer) my flight intention / declaration for the day. Detailing:

o Primary IGC Flight Recorder LXNav S100 (Serial # Q0A) sealed as a permanent fixture.

o Secondary IGC Flight Recorder Oudie Serial # 3PP (bracket mounted).

• Entered EXACTLY THE SAME Declaration into Primary and Secondary F.R. as per email to O.O.
• Briefed tow pilot that this is a record attempt and to note release height and position.
• Ensured take-off details were logged in the daily timesheet.
• Turn on tracking device(s) - in this case, specifically, ensure Btrace was switched on.

Note : track can be seen from the historical records on https://gliding.net.nz/tracking

Notes to Official Observer to Check / Confirm:

• Original IGC File LX-Nav S100 (Primary Flight Recorder) File 4BMVQ0A1.igc validates using FAI IGC validation program.
• Original IGC File Oudie IGC (Secondary Flight Recorder) File 2024-11-22-NAV-3PP-01.igc validates using FAI IGC validation program.
• Both Flight Recorders (S100 & Oudie) show ENL (Engine Noise Level) above trigger level. This is due to cockpit noise / vibration as the PW-5 does NOT have an engine.
• Flight Recorder Calibration Certificates:

o LXNav S100 SN # Q0A (33706) Calibration Certificate 2021,07,16

§ Maximum variation over the flight altitude range 0 – 4,500ft is 2 metres

o Oudie IGC: SN#3PP(4813) Calibration Certificate: 2022,07,20

§ Maximum variation over the flight altitude range 0 – 4,500ft is 3 metres

• Form C Speed Form from the FAI web site.

Weather on the day:

SW wind 18Kts with cloud base approximately 5000ft (this is an estimate as I did not reach cloud base during flight).

Task: Distance 100.6Km meets requirement for an Out & Return over 100Km – provided TIRS Tirohia A/S is sector rounded)

Flight Compliance with Sporting Code:

Airspace: Maximum altitude over the whole flight was 4124ft at 15:13:57. Airspace height limit (even without G254 & G255 being open) was 4,500ft – so flight did not break any airspace restrictions.

o Start crosses the start / finish line (0.5Km radius) in direction towards first turn point.

o Turn Points:

§ 1st turn point TIRS was achieved with a sector rounding. [ 0 Km distance deduction ]

o Task distance (no correction needed) = 100.6 Km,

o Finish crosses the start / finish line (0.5Km radius) from direction of last turn point,

o Loss of height over task = (880m – 518m) = 362m (max allowable = 1,000m),

§ Calibration certificates for both S100 & Oudie Flight Recorders submitted but not required given the height loss of 362 compared with the allowable 1,000m.

o No Airspace requests were made nor required,

o No Airspace violations were made,

o Glider was flown within the flight limitations of the glider,

o Flight completed clear of cloud,

o Flight completed during daylight hours.

Flight Narration by pilot Murray Wardell.

Current D13 NZ record for 100Km Out & Return is 108.03 kph set by E.G. Devenoges in a PW-5 on 14/11/2009.

Speed required to better the record of 108.03 kph is greater than or equal to 109.03 kph. This related to a flight time of less than or equal to 00:55:01.

The new time of this flight of 51mins 13 secs gives a new speed record of 117.15 kph and beats the old record by more than 1 Km/hr.

Launch from NZMA on tow behind ZKTOW at 14:46:42 to 2,000ft heading east to the Kaimai range.

Spent approximately 45 minutes assessing conditions and establishing for a start.

Flew conservatively south down ridge to start line to assess ridge lift and thermal strength before starting.

Crossed start line at 15:13:09 @ 2940ft doing 115Kts.

Classic high-speed ridge soaring, following the energy lines. Dropped down to ridge height slowing up to gain height to enable crossing spurs at a relatively high position so as to not have to fly too far down the spurs to avoid hitting them. Speeding up to cross sink areas and also where the lift is strong and where a gain of height was not required.

Tried to gain height before Mt Te Aroha so that I could cross behind it to save time. I was too low to do this safely, so I dove through considerable sink at 90 degrees off task to pass in front of Mt Te Aroha a couple of hundred feet below the summit.

Maintained good height at a reasonable speed in variable conditions to the first (and ONLY) turn point at TIRS Tirohia A/S at 15:59:31 at 2940ft. Ensured that I passed around the turn point through the remote sector to avoid a 1Km distance deduction. At the half way point I was a minute slower than I should have been to better the record, but I was hoping that the return flight would be faster.

An easy run back around Mt Te Aroha heading south and then a fast run down consistent reliable ridge lift past the Golf Ball.

[Interestingly, on the second and last leg as I was flying with a faster ground speed than on the first leg. I was able to observe the average speed over the task on my flight computer slowly increasing (because it’s the total distance over the total time to that point) in decimal point increments from below the current record to above the required. I therefore knew that I was going to beat the current record before I had even finished the task.]

I sped up for a fast 85kt crossing of the finish line still with plenty of margin of height to be able to get back to NZMA Matamata. Straight back north again to gain height for an uneventful pushout from the ridge and landing back at NZMA Matamata.

On my own analysis, this flight meets the criteria in every way for a new NZ D13 General 100Km Out & Return Speed Record of 117.15 Km/hr – subject to approval by Official Observer Sarel Venter and ratification by GNZ Awards Officer (Bruno Tagliapietra).

The flight is visible via OLC under my name for the 22/11/2024. The igc file can be downloaded here also for anyone who wants to analyse it.

My challenge is for someone to take up the challenge of setting an even faster time.

Murray Wardell