posted Oct 14th, 2010 - The NSL News story on 11 October 2010 brought back the topic of the right-hand door of the Pilatus Porter possibly for the World Meet 2012.

Members of the German national 4-way team Paratec-Saar had opened the discussion with the creation of a Facebook group, which has the first members and comments. The NSL News article also offered a forum for comments and a poll.

The first results of the poll show a significant majority for the opposition of switching to aircraft with a right-hand door, in this case the Pilatus Porter. However, the feedback from two of the most experienced competitors and coaches in the world provides two very different views, which still have one point in common. Solly Williams and Pete Allum both don't seem to see the athletic component, the actual exit, as the major challenge.

There is enough evidence for this conclusion, even most recently.

Arizona Airspeed, with the most prominent left-hand door experts of the past four years, won the World Meet 2008 in France from a Pilatus Porter applying a left-hand pattern.

Aerodyne Cypres Maubeuge, with the team members growing up in the country that has been using the Pilatus Porter as the main aircraft for many years, won the World Meet 2010 in Russia from a LET with a left-hand door applying a right-hand pattern.

Solly Williams and Pete Allum both have experiences with switching from one side of the jump plane to the other for the exit.

Pete Allum was the Point for Sebastian XL for many years from left-hand doors and competed with XL at the World Meet 2003 in France from the Pilatus Porter. He continued training from the same plane with Italy's national team Sinapsi. However, the whole team had to switch to the left-hand door, first for the World Meet 2006 in Germany, then again for the World Championship of Formation Skydiving 2010.

Pete Allum with Sebastian XL in 2003 and with Sinapsi in 2010

Solly Williams had his own experiences. He trained and competed with the South African national team Equanimity and attended the World Meet 1995 in Gap and 1997 in Turkey. Then he became a DeLand Majik member and won the World Meet 2004 in Croatia.

Equanimity trained in South Africa from a Cessna with a right-hand door but applied a left-hand pattern, with the Point in a floater position. The World Meet 1995 in France had the Pilatus Porter as the jump plane. Two years later, the same Equanimity lineup won bronze medals from a tailgate in Turkey.

Solly Williams then had to train mostly the left-hand pattern for meets from Twin Otters and other planes with the door on the left side when he moved to the USA. He joined the DeLand Majik lineup and missed the World Meet 2003 in France after placing only 3rd at the USPA Nationals 2002. The Golden Knights won and had to compete for the USA from the Pilatus Porter in Gap 2003. DeLand Majik with Solly Williams won the USPA Nationals 2003 and then gold medals at the World Meet 2004 in Croatia from a tailgate.

Solly Williams and Pete Allum both see the major pros and cons in different areas of competition at a World Championship of Formation Skydiving. Pete Allum thinks that teams will always learn what they need to win:

"Left or right hand door - the teams that put the most effort into their training will win medals. I for one really enjoy the extra challenge of switching doors."

He is also pointing out that the FS community should appreciate any bids for hosting the major events, as they are rare:

"We should look beyond doors and look closer at the facilities, prevailing weather and infrastructure of the potential venues."

World Meet 2012
Exits from Pilatus Porter right-hand door at the World Meet 2012?	Yes No Doesn't Matter
	Current Results

Solly Williams is not opposed to the Pilatus Porter as a jump plane for a World Meet, as well. In fact, he really likes it. However, his conclusion after evaluating the logistics of a meet from his perspective is very different:

"In summary, I would have to say the Porter remains one of my favorite aircraft to jump from. Would I want to train for a world meet out of it today? Heck no!! There are better options out there so simply WHY do it? In a perfect world I would like to see all world meets from tailgates. Way more comfortable and takes out the continuity issue too. However, it should be noted that my lack of support for a world meet out of Porters is not driven by continuity at all. It's about comfort and affordability for the competitors."

Last not least, Pete Allum and Solly Williams both want the athletes to be heard before the decision will be made by the IPC Delegates in January 2011, and Solly Williams said it all in short words: "For the people! :) Let the votes be heard..."