High Performance Stage 2025

ACAO – Calcinate del Pesce (VA)

3-8 April / 10-15 April 2025

As every year, in 2025 the ACAO will again make its organisation, equipment and personnel available to European pilots. Pilots wishing to practice sport flying (distance, speed, diplomas and records) in the magnificent flying terrain offered by the Central Alps in spring will have two consecutive editions of the High Performance Gliding Training Camp (SAP) at their disposal in 2025, which will take place on the following dates

• SAP1 (17th edition): 3 to 8 April 2025
• SAP2 (18th edition): 10 to 15 April 2025

At this stage, it is possible to attend SAP1 only (3-8 April), the other options are already fully booked.

The exceptional weather conditions of the flying area (alpine and pedemontana), the facilities of the Adele and Giorgio Orsi Airport and the organisational skills of the ACAO and its staff are well known to gliding pilots from all over the world, and the spring flights of high sporting value with take-off from the ACAO are now uncountable. These include a number of European records, numerous Italian distance and speed records, all FAI records up to the 1,250 km diploma, dozens of flights of over 1,000 km, including the first 1,000 km in FAI declared triangle with take-off from Italy, up to flights of over 1,600 km, the longest ever made on the Italian side of the Alps.

The 2024 edition of SAP opened on a high note and closed on an extraordinary note: more than 10 1,000 km flights of which 7 were declared and completed, 1 flight of 1,300 km, 1 flight of 1,500 km OLC (1,410 km declared) and 3 Italian records broken. On the last day of the SAP, 8 flights of over 1,000 km were made, 6 of which were declared and completed! Another record for the SAP and for the Adele and Giorgio Orsi Airport.

The SAP is designed for pilots of all levels with a glider and a valid FAI membership card. Participation in the SAP is particularly recommended for pilots who have already obtained at least the Silver insignia and have good mountain flying experience (participation in other stages and/or competitions and at least 300 km flown in the mountains).

SAP Programme

Each day of the SAP, in addition to the ACAO staff, several pilots from the Italian team will be present on the field. Participating pilots will thus have a constant reference on the ground for any need or advice (flight territory, off-field, waypoints and task of the day, take-off time and departure of the task, etc.).

Every morning a weather briefing will be held with suggestions to pilots on the day’s tasks according to different individual objectives. Where possible, de-briefings will also be held in the evening or in the morning of the following day for the analysis of flights made and/or to deal with topics of interest to pilots. In addition to the flight line, the Volo a Vela Restaurant and the ACAO Bar will also be operational throughout the week.

During the SAP there may also be the opportunity to fly with experienced pilots on high-performance two-seater gliders (ACAO Duodiscus and/or two-seaters of private pilots).

To find out about the availability of renting a Duodiscus from the ACAO fleet and the conditions of use, please contact airport director Alberto Balducci directly (direttore@acao.it). To fly instead on private two-seater gliders, interested pilots must make prior or on-site arrangements directly with the pilots who own the glider.

STAFF

Since the first edition in 2008, the SAP has been designed, organized and conducted by Alberto

Sironi with the indispensable support of about 20 collaborators, specialized in the different activities required: organization, promotion, office, tows, deployments, flight line, radio, lecturers and coaches, interpreter, weather forecast, task setting, scoring, bar, workshop, events, photo/video, communication, etc.

For several years, foreign pilots have also participated in the SAP, but since the 2023 edition, with the presence of a much-appreciated simultaneous translation service and the participation of a dozen foreign pilots of high sporting standards, the SAP has truly become an international event.

Ultimately, SAP is dedicated to those who want to:

• Broaden one’s knowledge of the Alpine flight area
• increase their pitch, particularly in mountain and foothill flying;
• Train for participation in speed and/or distance races;
• achieve new badges or sports diplomas and, why not, new records;
• Gaining new meaningful flying experience by comparing themselves with experienced pilots;
• simply devote one of the most meteorologically promising weeks in the Alps to flying toghether with like-minded friends in a very well-equipped and organized Club.

Costs and registration procedures

The participation fee for the SAP consists of a glider fee of 290,00 € and a pilot fee of 100,00 €. Those who take part in both editions of the SAP, i.e. from 3 to 15 April, will receive a discount of 100,00 € on the total full fee (not combinable with other discounts).

The current ACAO price list (published on acao.it) will be applied for the cost of towing.

The number of places at the SAP is limited. We apologize to inform that no places are now avaialble: an additional waiting list will be soon opened. Registration is done by filling in the registration form on www.acao.it and making the payment of the participation fee (glider fee + pilot fee) within 10 days after sending the form, by bank transfer or directly to the ACAO secretariat (Daniela Miglierina +39 0332310073; segreteriaeventi@acao.it).