On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 12:37:54 PM UTC-5, John Godfrey (QT) wrote:
On Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 12:10:05 AM UTC-5, Andy Blackburn wrote:
Minutes from the SSA Competition Rules Committee Meeting are now posted on the SSA website:

https://www.ssa.org/files/member/201...2012-07-18.pdf

There are many detailed items in the minutes. For clarity of communication, the introduction to the most significant item (#19 in the minutes, starting on page 9) is reproduced below:

RC intends to move towards FAI-based rules capable of being scored by SeeYou or similar commercial tasking/scoring software and/or WinScore by 2021.

This will happen in three steps:

2019
- Make adjustments to US Rules to add FAI-like AT turn cylinders and finish configuration.
- Develop and begin execution of plans for 2020 contest trials and longer-term transition – rules, local procedures, training and change management, handicaps (esp. Sports Class), PRL and UST implications, systems integration with SSA.org, SoaringSpot, FAI ranking, financial implications..

2020
- Run 3-4 trial contests (including 2 Nationals) under a US rule system based on FAI – contests should be of sufficient size to reach a significant proportion of the pilot community, particularly the most active pilots
- Collect detailed pilot feedback and input from trials

2021
- Roll out of “final” rules and systems, infrastructure, training, fees, etc. based on trial system plus adjustments based on learnings/pilot feedback/refinement.

For the Competition Rules Committee
Andy Blackburn, Chair

Respectfully, neither Guy's or UH's comments are exactly correct. It is perfectly acceptable to have both an airfield bonus and safety finish. Note in the local procedures for the WWGC they provide for limiting start height and speed.

True- organizers MAY limit start height and speed. Or they may not
In contrasting the 2 rules sets, GFB is correct. There is no start out the top, there is no airfield bonus, and there is no safety finish. It is also true that "local procedures" can provide for many adjustments to meet local needs, subject to what may conflict with the intent of SC3a and capabilities provided in the scoring program selected.
UH