| A new Austrian regulation issued by the
Federal Ministry of Transport states that any paraglider pilot flying in Austria
(including foreigners) will have to "...use a harness with a suitable
back-protector..." (literal translation) as from 1st of January. There are
no technical regulations or certification standards for back-protectors yet.
The DHV-OeAeC technical department is
currently working on a standard for back-protectors based on energy-dissipation
measurements. Consequently in the near future a harness will only pass
DHV/OeAeC-certification, if either its integrated back-protector is found to comply with
the new standard, or else if the harness can be fitted with a back-protector, that has
been tested successfully on an earlier occasion.
In Germany no final decision has been taken
yet, as the DHV waits for the technical side of the question to be clarified.
Martin Jursa - Head DHV - OeAeC Technical
Dept. | 
