US Tasking? Are way too many TATs/MATs are being called vs. NOTENOUGH ASSIGNED TASKS (3% in 2013)

I too prefer Assigned Speed Tasks - especially in good conditions, when calling an area task seems such a waste.

TATs are fun, and easier for the CD to call (I've landed out the whole field on ASTs - not fun). But they should be used due to weather or handicap reasons, and be tailored to keep the field close - no sequential 30 mile areas that turn into an OLC task, please.

Long MATs are OK too - but one or no turn MATs should be abolished! They are a total copout by the CD and should be refused by the competitors.

A comment about gaggles - really? On the one hand we complain about lack of participation at contests, then complain that the gaggles will be too big? Perhaps at the Nationals or Worlds, but at the average Regional with 12 participants, you could all start a speed task at the same time and probably not get a gaggle organized!

Kirk
66

If the handicap range is wide there is really no choice on a TAT other than large circles.and the handicap range doesn't have to be terribly wide to produce a wide variation on speeds achieved. On a good long soaring day that drives the requirement for a wide range between minimum and maximum distance

On Tuesday, July 29, 2014 10:25:28 AM UTC-4, Tony wrote:
If the handicap range is wide there is really no choice on a TAT other than large circles.and the handicap range doesn't have to be terribly wide to produce a wide variation on speeds achieved. On a good long soaring day that drives the requirement for a wide range between minimum and maximum distance

Not true Tony.
Add another turn area and the size of the cylinders drops significantly.
This allows the variability in task length without using cylinders that are 30 miles in radius.
I prefer cylinders of 10 to 15 mile radius maximum in part because this allows the pilot to see enough of the usable area to make decisions.
4 turn areas seem to work well for this.
UH

I am enjoying the posts all on both sides of the issue. Thanks!

I agree there is a need for a TAT. My question is how much of a need?

I agree that "LONG" (emphasis on LONG!) MATs are better than TAT's (better test of skill, more fun). They also allow for AT like tasks with wider handicap ranges.

But only 3% of US tasking in 2013 was pure AT! That's right, ONLY 3 PERCENT!

Isnt that WAY, WAAAAY too low a proportion of the US Tasks? Or is this what "we" want? The AT is now "virtually gone" for all intents and purposes in the US. Furthermore, many (MANY) of the MATs were only 1 turn. 2 of 8 (25%) tasks in the 2013 Sports/Club Class Nationals (Mifflin) we actually ZERO turn MAT's. Is that even fair for a non local pilot? That is 2 ZERO turn MAT's at a National Championship? I was shocked to see this.

It seems to me that we are running wild on eliminating ATs from our tasking.. Quality tasks are dropping dangerously low (assuming that you think pure, simple Assigned Tasks are of higher quality than TATs). We are now almost exclusively calling wide turn area tasks or one turn MAT's in the US. Even at Nationals only 10% of the tasks are Pure AT's.

Overall, we are down to 3% AT's in the entire SSA and USA in 2013. That is a stunning, glaring fact.

Sean

On Tuesday, July 29, 2014 10:39:28 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tuesday, July 29, 2014 10:25:28 AM UTC-4, Tony wrote:

If the handicap range is wide there is really no choice on a TAT other than large circles.and the handicap range doesn't have to be terribly wide to produce a wide variation on speeds achieved. On a good long soaring day that drives the requirement for a wide range between minimum and maximum distance



Not true Tony.

Add another turn area and the size of the cylinders drops significantly.

This allows the variability in task length without using cylinders that are 30 miles in radius.

I prefer cylinders of 10 to 15 mile radius maximum in part because this allows the pilot to see enough of the usable area to make decisions.

4 turn areas seem to work well for this.

UH