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

Sean,

Sorry you are way off base on today's call. I'm not on the task committee but I thought it was a good call. I like AST's but we have been on the edge of storms for three days. Hard to predict where it will OD right now.

We had a forty mile long cell of rain down the middle of the task area today. It gave pilots the option of how to fly around it today.

Also the first turn area was over very intimidating terrain. The more advance pilots could fly over the high plateau but allowed the newer pilots with less mountain experience to fly where they were more comfortable. I ran a ledge next to a thunderstorm for fifty miles over a high plateau, I don't expect a newer pilot to do the same.

Today's task was really a triangle that all the pilots followed similar paths so much less variation than you would think for three turns with big rings.

As you remember from your last contest at Parowan this can be intimidating weather and country for new pilots. If I remember correctly you did not fly a few days because it was too advanced for your skill level at the time.

The task committee has done a nice job for the last three days with very dynamic weather. We have thunderstorms rolling through right now that could have easily been right through the course area today.

TT

Tim,

"A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations that would require the use of his superior skills." -unknown. :-)

Interesting that you bring up my decision not to fly that day at Parawon during 2011(?) sports class nationals. I did not fly because the CD decided to launch on a day which was windier (gusts to 40 mph) than the day before (35 mph, which was cancelled due to the "extremely strong winds"). Sorta makes your brain hurt when you think about it. I decided not to fly on a day where the Porta Potties on the North end of the Parowan runway actually blew over while we were out on the grid "considering" things. Crews had to sit on the wings without pause as they would bang around violently. The intense winds made emergency landing options on tow extremely dangerous (IMO) off the south end of the runway. The tow planes made a right turn directly over the town of Parowan at about 100 ft.

I made a "judgement" decision that the strong wind conditions were just too unsafe (based on the previous days decision and common sense) and talked to the CD about it and informed him that I was going to pull off the grid for that day. I felt the CD was under tremendous pressure from certain pilots to launch as the previous day one pilot was able to get up and fly. My argument, other than the simple wind strength, was that if 40 gliders launched and were stuck at or near tow release altitude and then needed to return it would be crowded and dangerous, and that towing itself was dangerous as well. The sniffers were struggling to get up and drifting downwind rapidly. The turbulence along the mountain at tow release hight was another concern. The way to get up at parawon was to work up over that high terrain and often that meant being less than 1000 AGL. Etc, etc.

Yes, I was dissapionted with the decision to hold a contest day in such strong winds when two fatalities had just occurred that summer in strong winds (20-25 mph) at contests.

Francois Pin also pulled off the runway that day and did not fly. I guess the conditions were to advanced for him too? I'm not sure that your assessment of our decision not to fly that day is entirely accurate. I also believe the Air Force Acadamy grounded all of its gliders as well.

After that, with only one or two days left in the contest and no real competitive concerns, I decided to tour the local parks with my wife who had just flown in. I had already had a great time and was not worried about the results anymore. I had no problem with the terrain itself (on days with surface winds less that 40 mph), it was just a matter of maximizing a fun vacation when the competitive chances were no longer important.

Zion is amazing by the way!!!

I just see it a little differently then you describe Tim. I hope that helps you understand. I do have all sort of pictures and video from on the grid and of the conditions that were launched in that day. I'm sure historical weather records are available. Perhaps I should post them for you?

Sean

Tim,

If the call was justified I am fine with it. I am happy to be corrected. From the weather report on the SSA page however it looked good and high (16k) and strong (5-6 knots) with no mention of thunderstorms. That weather report / the call for a TAT with 3 60 mile turns = why I brought it up. 3 60 milers is a pretty extreme TAT to say the least.

But that goes both ways. If you do have a good Nephi weather day I hope assigned tasks are called for at least some of the classes. That is actually far less extreme of a call than the 3 60 mile turn TAT.

I would like to be the first to introduce a new nickname for this type of "TAT" task...the TAOLC! A TAOLC task is any task with more than one 30/60 mile turn area.

Seriously, If we are going to be calling tasks like this becuase of difficult weather, why have any limitations at all? Why force pilots to edge near storms if the area is in the wrong place or perhaps "too small?" Why not allow 100 mile turn areas or entire quadrants to be scoreable? Why not come up with a time limited (or no time limit) task simply called TAOLC? No computers needed, just a watch.

Back to ATs, remember that only 3% of US tasks in 2013 were AT. Does that mean that only 3% of the tasks had weather that could support an AT? Do our guidelines need updating? Are we happy with 3%. Do TATs alone provide a fair contest?

I'm trying to get people to think broadly here, not specifically. Remember, 3%....

Sean

New cropped photo of the task: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bx...Tzg&authuser=0

PS...if anyone was going to call the numbers at the bottom of the original page, I feel for you! ;-) ROTFL!

On Wednesday, August 6, 2014 3:47:40 PM UTC-4, Sean Fidler wrote:
Task call today from USA Region 9 (Nephi, UT)...



Wait for it.....................



3, 30 mile radius turn cylinders (THATS RIGHT, 3 THIRTY MILE RADIUS).



Photo of task sheet (sent by my spy) he https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bx7K...p=docslist_api



The AM report for the day actually say's the words "LETS RACE!" ROTFL. --http://www.ssa.org/Contests?cid=2268... gion+9+North



Ready, set, go............fly anywhere you want like OLC and have fun! But it's no race folks. Not even remotely close to a race. That's for sure.



Weather considerations for the task selection you may ask? Read it for yourself...



"Just finished the pilot meeting, spirits are high and optimism is high for a great day of racing.

One task for all classes; 02 Start, 78 Wayne Wonder, 43 Milford and 22 Delta Muni all turnpoints have 30 mile radi.

Nominal 280, maximum 402.6 and minium 182.

Duration 3:30

Task B is same as A but 3:00 duration.

Weather is forecated to be 4-6F warmer, trigger temperature passed by launch, TOL 14-15K+, lift 5 knots average+, cumulus clouds should be present and winds at TOL 15-18 MPH.

Tasks on SSA tracker site, happy viewing

Let's race" (--- yes they really said that!)



I rest my case.



:-)



Sean