Why wave maps?

Quality of information

Large-scale …



… For large scale-information we use the input of well experienced glider pilots (PLEASE HELP US). Hence about 10-20 years of experience in an area are desired. Their knowledge is combined with older available thermal maps and satellite pictures. All together is combined to a thermal map where the boarders (e.g. forest edges) of the thermal spaces and the hotspots are located as accurately as possible.



Small scale …



… we would like to enhance the available data not only to the edges, we would also like to improve the local quality of the information. Therefore we would like to ask you to give us thermal information on your local airports. The good and bad thermal locations in the vicinity of your airport are probably well known by your club members. Please submit this information to us and we make it available to everyone. You can claim thermal spaces and hotspots. Contact us.

Data format

We usually plan our trips on the computer. Hence it is nice to have the thermal map available in our flight planing software. It might also by handy to have it available on the PDA during flight, e.g. on blue thermal days. This is possible by using the airspace format. Since the airspace A and B are not used in most countries, it is possible to use them for the thermal map. The appearance on the screen can be adjusted according to the individual preferences of each pilots in the options/airspace menu. The height of the thermal spaces was set to FL98 to FL99 in order to avoid warnings during flight, for the case warnings have not been deactivated. In October 2012 wave spaces were also collected. Therefore another airspace type was required. Since all the other airspaces are used and airspace G can not be displayed is some pda-softwares, it was decided to use airspace E for wave spaces. This airspace is already in use in many countries, but in most cases it is not included in the airspace files. Hence it can be used to store wave areas.



Airspace class A: very good when fully coloured, good when only framed



Airspace class B: very weak when fully coloured, weak when only framed



Airspace class E: wave area (Not a real airspace)



Thermal Hotspots



For hotspots the waypoint format is applied.

Nomenclature of wave spaces

Mountain Wave Space

for region mid-Germany



for region mid-Germany main wind direction 220°



+- 15° tolerance in wind direction



“L” for “Low wind speed”; “H” will be used for high wind speeds



Wind reference point – this point will be mentioned on the download page in brackets behind the file. Furthermore it can be found in the head lines of each open airspace file (can be seen by the use of a text-editor), e.g. Brocken (highest mountain in middle Germany)

