Becoming an Official Observer

[Wojciech Scigala]

Hello!

What does it take to became a IGC's Official Observer in your country?
Are any courses, trainings, exams organised? Are there any documents
regulating this?

Thanks for all replies.

--
Wojtu¶.net

[[email protected]]

On Mar 15, 1:50*pm, Wojciech Scigala > wrote:
> Hello!
>
> What does it take to became a IGC's Official Observer in your country?
> Are any courses, trainings, exams organised? Are there any documents
> regulating this?
>
> Thanks for all replies.
>
> --
> Wojtu¶.net

For the US, this is from the SSA website:

"Who is an Official Observer? An Official Observer is a member of the
SSA, holds at least an SSA B Badge, and
has a working knowledge of the FAI Sporting Code as it pertains to
Gliders."

[Darryl Ramm]

On Mar 15, 11:50*am, Wojciech Scigala > wrote:
> Hello!
>
> What does it take to became a IGC's Official Observer in your country?
> Are any courses, trainings, exams organised? Are there any documents
> regulating this?
>
> Thanks for all replies.
>
> --
> Wojtu¶.net

Your local NAC may have some formal requirement. It is not clear what
country you are in. Why do you care about other countries?

In the USA the SSA requirments for an OO are listen on the SSA web
site and are

"In the United States, the SSA has established the following
requirements for a person to act as an Official Observer (OO) for any
FAI Badge or Record flight or SSA State Record or Awards flight:

1. Must hold at least an SSA B Badge or higher SSA Badge (C or
Bronze Badge), or a leg of an FAI Badge (e.g., Silver Altitude) or
completed FAI Silver, Gold or Diamond Badge.
2. Must have a working knowledge of the FAI Sporting Code as it
pertains to gliders (Section 3) including Annex C which is a guide to
the Code.
3. Must be an SSA Member.
4. An Airport Manager may also act as an Official Observer."

The SSA B etc. badge requirements are a pretty low/trival barrier to
pass. The most important requirement is to understand the FAI Sporting
Code, mostly Section 3, and Annex C, and the Flight Recorder approval
document for the recorder in use (if any). In the USA the SSA
requirements for being an OO are listed on the SSA web site

I would hazard a guess that the next issue beside understanding the
rules is one of pilot and OO preparation (i.e. both having discussed
plans and requirements before standing in front of the glider about to
launch). The OO should have an attitude of while helping the pilot
clarify things that the pilot really needs to prove to the OO that
they met the record or badge requirements. I suspect some OO's see
their jobs as merely being a witness and shuffling paper. I get
frustrated when I see or hear about thinks like an OO not even
bothering to open a flight recorder IGC file to inspect a flight trace
or validate the security seal before shuffling that off the some poor
NAC official just to waste their time.

Darryl

[kestrel19]

On Mar 15, 1:30*pm, Darryl Ramm > wrote:
> On Mar 15, 11:50*am, Wojciech Scigala > wrote:
>
> > Hello!
>
> > What does it take to became a IGC's Official Observer in your country?
> > Are any courses, trainings, exams organised? Are there any documents
> > regulating this?
>
> > Thanks for all replies.
>
> > --
> > Wojtu¶.net
>
> Your local NAC may have some formal requirement. It is not clear what
> country you are in. Why do you care about other countries?
>
> In the USA the SSA requirments for an OO are listen on the SSA web
> site and are
>
> "In the United States, the SSA has established the following
> requirements for a person to act as an Official Observer (OO) for any
> FAI Badge or Record flight or SSA State Record or Awards flight:
>
> * *1. Must hold at least an SSA B Badge or higher SSA Badge (C or
> Bronze Badge), or a leg of an FAI Badge (e.g., Silver Altitude) or
> completed FAI Silver, Gold or Diamond Badge.
> * *2. Must have a working knowledge of the FAI Sporting Code as it
> pertains to gliders (Section 3) including Annex C which is a guide to
> the Code.
> * *3. Must be an SSA Member.
> * *4. An Airport Manager may also act as an Official Observer."
>
> The SSA B etc. badge requirements are a pretty low/trival barrier to
> pass. The most important requirement is to understand the FAI Sporting
> Code, mostly Section 3, and Annex C, and the Flight Recorder approval
> document for the recorder in use (if any). In the USA the SSA
> requirements for being an OO are listed on the SSA web site
>
> I would hazard a guess that the next issue beside understanding the
> rules is one of pilot and OO preparation (i.e. both having discussed
> plans and requirements before standing in front of the glider about to
> launch). The OO should have an attitude of while helping the pilot
> clarify things that the pilot really needs to prove to the OO that
> they met the record or badge requirements. I suspect some OO's see
> their jobs as merely being a witness and shuffling paper. I get
> frustrated when I see or hear about thinks like an OO not even
> bothering to open a flight recorder IGC file to inspect a flight trace
> or validate the security seal before shuffling that off the some poor
> NAC official just to waste their time.
>
> Darryl

I've heard the FAI/IGC is considering raising the bar a bit on vetting
OO's for world records.

Frank Whiteley

[[email protected]]

On Mar 15, 2:50*pm, Wojciech Scigala > wrote:
> Hello!
>
> What does it take to became a IGC's Official Observer in your country?
> Are any courses, trainings, exams organised? Are there any documents
> regulating this?
>
> Thanks for all replies.
>
> --
> Wojtu¶.net

In Canada:
Applicants shall be holders of a Silver badge, or be a current Soaring
Associaton of Canada instructor, or have been
continuously active with soaring activities for the past three years.
All OO appointments are for a term of
three years, after which the OO must be re-validated by the club
Senior OO (or CFI if no SOO) to stay on
the active OO list.
AND
Is in possession of, or have ready access to, the current FAI Sporting
Code
for gliders and its Annex C - the OO and Pilot Guide
AND
Certify that he/she is familiar with the duties and responsibilities
of an Official Observer and agrees to stay
current with future changes to related publications and SAC policy.
AND
The applicant is recommended for appointment as an Official Observer:
(signed by any two club officers, including CFIs and OOs ).

There is an up-to-date quiz on the national website at:
http://www.sac.ca/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=65&Itemid=79
to keep yourself current.

DD