AIREport is the name of the ‘general information and enquiries’ point at AIRE’s own orienteering events. AIREport has nothing to do with Leeds Bradford airport!
The prime purpose of AIREport is to provide a friendly and relaxed contact point away from the hustle and bustle of event operations. The teams engaged in Registration, Start, Finish, Download and Results all need to focus on these key roles and cannot always afford the time to respond to less urgent albeit important enquiries and requests.
AIREport is used by:
· existing AIRE members
· new AIRE members
· prospective AIRE members – including inquisitive members of the public
· and orienteers from other clubs
to get assistance, advice or information about …
· the current AIRE event
· future events and activities
· orienteering in general
· membership of AIRE, British Orienteering, etc
Some random FAQs posed to AIREport
· Which way to the Start? How far to the Start?
· Where are the toilets? Is there a toilet at the Start?
· Is there a clothing dump? Are cagoules compulsory?
· Can I leave my stuff here? What is a SI number?
· What course should I do? What does M35 mean? What’s Light Green?
· Can I borrow a whistle? Can I wear shorts? Can I leave this for Joe to collect?
· Is there a string course? Where is it? When does it close?
· Do you have a start list? When is my start time? Are there any blank maps?
· Where are the control descriptions? What’s a re-entrant?
· My partner is ill. Can I take him his map?
· Can I borrow a compass? Which way is north?
· I haven’t done this before what do I do? What is O-Lite, TNR, JK?
· What do these mean: EOD, punching start, IOF symbols, form-lines, sprint-o?
· And howabout: BO, route gadget, Fabian, split-times & split-starts, Blue Men?!
· Are there any results? Why do I do it? Is anyone selling food?!
· I lost my dibber. Has anyone found it?
· Is there a First Aider? Where is the nearest hospital?
· What are CLARO, SYO, EPOC, HALO and EBOR? Are they tribes?
· How can I join AIRE? Do I need to join British Orienteering?
· That was the best thing ever! When’s the next one? Can I get an AIRE O-top?
AIREport is normally located close to Registration. The prominent AIREport tent (previously green, currently blue) is usually used along with one of the Club’s two sail banners. Occasionally an indoor or open-air setting is used provided it is in a prominent position to best serve orienteers and, if possible, the public. AIREport attends the Club’s national and regional events including cross-country, urban-o, sprint-o and long-o orienteering competitions. It does not normally attend local, informal, night-o or social events. AIREport is usually in place from before 09.30 until after the last runner is accounted for.
What else happens?
AIREport also serves as:
· a social hub
· a message exchange
· a base for the Club’s two first aid kits
· a base for the event’s volunteer duty First Aider
· to lend compass/whistle to those without – especially newcomers
· as a temporary base for lost and left property
· as a focus for selling/distributing Club kit, buffs, etc
· as a base to return/distribute trophies, etc
· to assist the Yorkshire & Humber Junior Orienteering Squad’s cake stall
· a focus for other clubs’ event fliers
· a home for ‘Dibber’ (an owl – the Club mascot!)
AIREport strives to be sufficiently well-equipped and informed to deliver all the above and answer the FAQs. AIREport is a quaint, friendly, human service to complement information available from website, fliers, final details and signs.