On Jul 6, 10:54*am, Tuno wrote:
snip File a complaint with the Rule Committee. /snip

Did that already.

Not a complaint as much as a request that if the AFA is going to take
slots at an over-subscribed contest, that they agree to abide by
contest rules.

I'm usually a lurker on this group, but I have to respond to this
thread. You guys are missing the whole point of the AFA soaring
program. It's to give some (lucky) cadets a headstart on their flying
careers, and begin to teach them the basics of flight. The program is
conducted in a specific way for several reasons. Most cadets are very
low-time pilots, so conservatism is in order. In addition, they are
flying taxpayer-financed gliders, and they have to be good custodians
of that public property. Finally, they are training to be military
pilots, which means they must fly with discipline and according to
their regulations. They must obey orders, because they are training
to be combat pilots, and that is what is necessary for them to be
effective in that environment. It's unfortunate that, for whatever
reason, they didn't comply with some contest rule on occasion, but the
fact is that they must comply with their own rules. Accusations of
CYA or lack of understanding of the sport are simply nonsense.