Raul -

Here's how I read Dirks' comments:

He is not commenting on whether the manuals must be updated every
year.
He's saying that the law makes it clear: _If_ a manufacturer updates
their manuals, the Owners/Operators and Maintenance personnel are
required to ensure that they're using the updated manual.
The law doesn't state that DG must over the revised manuals for free -
just that they are required to be available.

I think Dirks' comments are being used to tell pilots in the EU "don't
ignore the fees from DG. If you refuse to buy updated manuals, you're
flying illegally."

As an extreme example: DG could come up with a new manual every week.
They could charge 100 Euros per manual and require pilots to walk
across a bed of hot coals at the DG factory before giving them the
manual. And if a glider pilot/owner doesn't have the most recent
manual (i.e. for that particular week) then they are not in compliance
with the law - Period!

Bottom-line: The way the laws are written (from what Dirks says),
owners/pilots in the EU are hostages - they are at the mercy of the
manufacturer. Any time the manufacturer revises the manuals, the
owners/pilots/maintenance-personnel are _required_ to get them. The
onus is on those people for having the proper manuals, no matter the
cost.

I love my DG-300; and boy am I glad that I am in the USA and that my
glider has an Experimental certificate! ...But Weber's actions
definitely have me re-thinking getting a DG-800 someday. ASW is
looking more appealing all the time (all donations are gladly
accepted)! :-P

--Noel