Really interesting concept - I like the direction! A few thoughts came to mind:
It’s worth considering how to ensure that the data in the system stays complete and up to date. Who would be responsible for filling it in, and what would motivate them to do so? Maybe the platform could sync automatically with existing competition data sources such as CIVL Comps or Airtribune to reduce manual work.
It would be valuable to collect feedback or post-event reports from each competition. This could help improve data quality and provide insights for future events.
I’d also like to see not only the organiser’s declarations, but also references to historical competitions run by the same organiser or at the same site - including details like who the Meet Director and Safety Director were, and how their performance was rated.
Comments
Organiser
This proposal outlines a concept for a shared, independent safety information platform for paragliding competitions. The goal is simple: to make safety-related information easier to find, understand, and act upon, without creating new layers of bureaucracy or imposing top-down control.
The prototype I have created (using completely fictitious data) is designed to show what is possible, not to represent any official source. https://preview--simply-supode-style.lovable.app It demonstrates how safety, medical, and logistical information could be presented in a central, structured, and user-friendly way, so that every pilot, organiser, and institution can benefit from the same foundation of knowledge.
The key principle is independence with collaboration.
Each organisation—whether a national federation, competition organiser, or safety body—would be able to contribute and update relevant information within agreed boundaries. Updates would be moderated to ensure quality and consistency, but the intent is not to control or enforce. Instead, it is to reduce duplication, improve accuracy, and save time for everyone who currently works in isolation to gather the same information.
For example, competition organisers could easily access consistent details about:
Nearest hospitals and emergency care capabilities
Medical response plans and regional capacity
Site-specific safety considerations and infrastructure
Contact details for local emergency services
Pilots can also personalise their experience through adjustable preferences. By choosing from preset profiles such as Safety First, Balanced, Points Hungry, Budget, or New to Comps, the system tailors competition recommendations to align with individual goals and priorities. Factors such as safety, cost, reliability, learning, scenery, social atmosphere, novelty, and points weighting can all be balanced to reflect what matters most to each pilot. This approach encourages self-awareness and informed decision-making, while acknowledging that pilots value different aspects of competition flying.
Much of the current safety discussion in our sport focuses on equipment and pilot skill, both of which are important. However, one of the most significant and underrepresented contributors to accidents lies in the sites we choose to fly and compete at. The inherent characteristics of each site—its terrain, infrastructure, accessibility, and available emergency care—play a major role in shaping risk. Yet this information is often fragmented, inconsistent, or difficult to access. By making site-related safety information more visible and comparable, we can strengthen both pilot decision-making and organiser planning in a practical, non-judgemental way.
This initiative does not aim to restrict or replace decision-making. It is about empowering better judgement through shared visibility.
By agreeing on common definitions and preconditions for a “safe competition”, we can build a consistent baseline while still respecting the diversity of sites, organisers, and flying cultures around the world.
This is a starting point, not a finished product. It will require collaboration on governance, moderation processes, and terminology. But even at this early stage, it shows how a shared approach can reduce friction, improve safety awareness, and strengthen trust between pilots, organisers, and institutions.
Thank you for taking the time to review the concept. A preview of the prototype can be viewed here:
👉 https://preview--simply-supode-style.lovable.app