US Competition Pilot Poll and Election

John,

Saying that "certain features" of FAI rules are available today for SSA (US rules) CDs to use, if they wish (wink, wink), is entirely different than a discussion about the value that US rules provide and if we should switch to FAI based on an objective discussion about that measured value of US rules. When is the last time that a US/SSA sanctioned contest used a starting line, or finish line? And seriously, a SSA contest CD calling an assigned tasks is about as rare as purple flying unicorn rides at Walmart. These things are so rare here in the United States and Canada that they are entirely irrelevant to discuss or offer.

I, for one, want to fly ALL US glider competitions under the exact system that the rest of the world uses. FAI. Period. Specific features "offered" by US rules are not the solution. FAI RULES are used by ALL OTHER SOARING COUNTRIES safely, happily and effectively.

The only solution, for me, is the SSA shelving its custom/falied US rules experiiment and rejoining the FAI rules community. The SSA being a true partner of the world soaring competition community (FAI), rather than a challenger/loner at every turn. Rejoining FAI has loads of other important value for all current and future US pilots. And, of course, there is a significant savings in annual cost (time and energy (and ire)) of endlessly maintaining our custom, experimental and failed (zero measurable value) US rules system. We can repurpose those volunteers to other objectIves rather than re-creating everything from scratch and constantly changing.

This is a question of major religions, not a splitting hairs debate about enabling/disabling minor features within the same religion.

I think this debate is very productive. For us youngins, it sets the stage for where the SSA can go in 3-5 years. Perhaps 10. Perhaps sooner!

Bottom line, US rules do not add value. Why waste all that time and effort and irritation? You boys can simply walk away from this madness. Then we can only complain to the FAI. You'll be free!

Sean