Preface: I'm in favor of allowing team flying in US soaring competition. I hope it can be practiced in such a manner that the next rule cycle will allow team flying in all US contests.

Concern: Air-to-air soaring radio traffic will be more apt to "interfere" with powered aviation management. What efforts should be made towards not having the FAA/FCC bearing down on competition soaring?

Surely the FAA/FCC will not welcome new "interference" and the last thing the individual soaring pilot, contest site and management, and soaring competition in general needs is more government management. The SSA is not responsible for what goes on in the cockpit but this new direction has opened a "Pandora's Box" for all associated.

The 2013 rules allow only regionals to uses air-to-air communication and appropriately only at the organizer’s option. To the 2013 SSA RC, what are your suggestions to implement this practice with minimum bandwidth “footprint”?

Since Euros have the most air-to-air bandwidth useage experience, what policy and procedure do they use for team flying in contests?

Going forward in US competition, what is the best method to select a "team" frequency? Should selecting a frequency be a pilot free-for-all? Should site specific "guidelines" be developed? Can/will the SSA open doors to the FCC/FAA in an effort to help organize site specific "guidelines"?

Last but perhaps most importantly, what are the factual "rights" of US soaring pilots to openly use any 8.33kHz and/or 25kHz spaced frequency?