ACAO – Calcinate del Pesce (VA) – April 14-20, 2024 In order to enable all glider pilots to try their hand at sport flying (insignia, distance, speed, diplomas and records) in the magnificent flying terrain offered in the spring by the Central Alps, the ACAO is again this year making available its airport with its organization, means and staff, organizing The 16th High Performance Internship (SAP 2024), which will take place from April 14 to 20, 2024
The exceptional weather conditions of the flying area (alpine and foothills), the facilities of the Adele and Giorgio Orsi Airport, and the organizational capabilities of ACAO are now well known to gliding pilots from all over the World, and spring flights of high sporting value with take-off from ACAO are not counted. These include a number of European records, numerous Italian distance and speed records, all FAI insignia up to the 1,250 km diploma, numerous flights of over 1,000 km, including the first 1,000 km in declared FAI triangle with takeoff from Italy, up to flights of over 1,600 km, the longest ever made in the Italian side of the Alps.
The SAP is for Italian and foreign sport pilots of all levels equipped with a glider and a valid FAI card. However, participation in the SAP is recommended for pilots who have already achieved 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).
Program
Each day of the SAP, in addition to ACAO personnel, several pilots from the Italian Squadron will be present. While in-flight assistance is not guaranteed, participating pilots will have a constant reference on the ground for any needs or advice (flying territory, outfield, pylons and theme of the day, take-off time and theme departure time, etc.).
Every morning there will be a weather briefing with suggestions to pilots on the day’s tasks according to different individual goals.
Where possible, de-briefings will also be held in the evening or morning of the next day for analysis of flights made and/or to cover topics of interest to sport pilots.
In addition to the flight line, the Volo a Vela restaurant and the ACAO Bar will also be operating all week.
During the course of the week there may also be opportunities to do some flying with experienced pilots on performance two-seater gliders (Duodiscus Acao and/or two-seaters of private pilots).
To find out about the availability of leasing a Duodiscus from the ACAO fleet and its terms of use, contact airport director Alberto Balducci directly (direttore@acao.it). To fly instead on private individuals’ tandem gliders, it will be necessary to make arrangements, in advance or on the spot, directly with the pilots who own the craft.
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, secretariat, tows, deployments, flight line, radio, lecturers and coaches, interpreter, weather, 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 how to apply
The SAP participation fee consists of a glider fee of €200.00 and a pilot fee of €100.00. Acao members and riders who are under 26 years of age at the time of registration receive a discount of €150.00. Discounts can be combined.
The current ACAO price list (published on acao.it) will be applied for the cost of tows.
