SSA Competition Rules Committee Meeting Minutes Now Available

At least get rid of the criss cross crash insanity.

I hope the "pro-FAI guys" realize that the adoption of the FAI rules will necessitate the elimination of the "Airfield Bonus".

I'm looking forward to the old George Moffat philosophy where a death dive to a landout in the boonies to pick up a few points is preferable to a landing at a safe airfield below.

Oh, and no more "staring out the cylinder top" nonsense either.

Guy Byars

On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 10:39:44 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I hope the "pro-FAI guys" realize that the adoption of the FAI rules will necessitate the elimination of the "Airfield Bonus".

I'm looking forward to the old George Moffat philosophy where a death dive to a landout in the boonies to pick up a few points is preferable to a landing at a safe airfield below.

Oh, and no more "staring out the cylinder top" nonsense either.

Guy Byars

Or that safety finish. "Real" pilots get to the finish.
UH

On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 11:25:58 AM UTC-5, wrote:
On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 10:39:44 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I hope the "pro-FAI guys" realize that the adoption of the FAI rules will necessitate the elimination of the "Airfield Bonus".

I'm looking forward to the old George Moffat philosophy where a death dive to a landout in the boonies to pick up a few points is preferable to a landing at a safe airfield below.

Oh, and no more "staring out the cylinder top" nonsense either.

Guy Byars

Or that safety finish. "Real" pilots get to the finish.
UH



I'm not really a "pro-FAI" guy but I've found myself persuaded by the guys that are.

The new for 2018 78.5 square mile area start (if you can reach MSH) that degenerates into a 31.4 mile circumference ring start (if you cannot) is what changed my opinion.

The US "beer can" start has always had (in my view) too much tactical importance, especially in crummy conditions. The change from "half a can" to "whole can" turned out to be a half beer too many for me. Some CD's are especially good at calling an MSH that you might, or might not be able to reach and guessing wrong (as a contestant) can be costly!

As far as the safety finish goes, I'm told that t-storm likelihood is handled (correctly, if the weather guy and task setter are on their game) by a larger ring finish (in the initial task call).

Moreover... since US Nats are getting FAI ranking points *now*, what would prevent us from keeping things like the existing safety finish and airport bonus?

Thanks for all you do, Guy & Hank.

best,
Evan / T8

On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 11:33:22 AM UTC-5, Tango Eight wrote:
On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 11:25:58 AM UTC-5, wrote:
On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 10:39:44 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I hope the "pro-FAI guys" realize that the adoption of the FAI rules will necessitate the elimination of the "Airfield Bonus".

I'm looking forward to the old George Moffat philosophy where a death dive to a landout in the boonies to pick up a few points is preferable to a landing at a safe airfield below.

Oh, and no more "staring out the cylinder top" nonsense either.

Guy Byars

Or that safety finish. "Real" pilots get to the finish.
UH



I'm not really a "pro-FAI" guy but I've found myself persuaded by the guys that are.

The new for 2018 78.5 square mile area start (if you can reach MSH) that degenerates into a 31.4 mile circumference ring start (if you cannot) is what changed my opinion.

The US "beer can" start has always had (in my view) too much tactical importance, especially in crummy conditions. The change from "half a can" to "whole can" turned out to be a half beer too many for me. Some CD's are especially good at calling an MSH that you might, or might not be able to reach and guessing wrong (as a contestant) can be costly!

As far as the safety finish goes, I'm told that t-storm likelihood is handled (correctly, if the weather guy and task setter are on their game) by a larger ring finish (in the initial task call).

Moreover... since US Nats are getting FAI ranking points *now*, what would prevent us from keeping things like the existing safety finish and airport bonus?

Thanks for all you do, Guy & Hank.

best,
Evan / T8

If you look at the traces of pilots landing out , while safety landing is imposed.
They are still going to the finish , only storm is stronger, than their computer (still away) is thinking.Very few pilots actually divert( only those deserve safety finish). So it is a US scam. If weatherman tells 4pm will be storm, we should plan to be back before, and not gamble, and not have extra cushion of safety finish to bail us up.
Ryszard

On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 8:25:58 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 10:39:44 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I hope the "pro-FAI guys" realize that the adoption of the FAI rules will necessitate the elimination of the "Airfield Bonus".

I'm looking forward to the old George Moffat philosophy where a death dive to a landout in the boonies to pick up a few points is preferable to a landing at a safe airfield below.

Oh, and no more "staring out the cylinder top" nonsense either.

Guy Byars

Or that safety finish. "Real" pilots get to the finish.
UH

Hank, when you say "safety finish" are you addressing use of a remote finish point in the event of bad weather or having a minimum finish altitude at a set distance from the field?

If it's the latter then that's not necessarily gone. I've flown an FAI contest where we did have a minimum finish height at the finish circle.

Best regards,
Craig

Do FAI rules allow us to change the task in the air with a roll call as often happens? I thought FAI contests publish the tasks really early in the day and stick to it even if the task goes through a storm that pops up before launch.
Chris

On Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 12:20:39 AM UTC-5, wrote:
Do FAI rules allow us to change the task in the air with a roll call as often happens? I thought FAI contests publish the tasks really early in the day and stick to it even if the task goes through a storm that pops up before launch.
Chris

Change possible 20 min before first glider T/O
So no confusion, and no zombies flying all together same time programming not looking out.
Ryszard

On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 7:27:32 PM UTC-5, Craig Funston wrote:
On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 8:25:58 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 10:39:44 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I hope the "pro-FAI guys" realize that the adoption of the FAI rules will necessitate the elimination of the "Airfield Bonus".

I'm looking forward to the old George Moffat philosophy where a death dive to a landout in the boonies to pick up a few points is preferable to a landing at a safe airfield below.

Oh, and no more "staring out the cylinder top" nonsense either.

Guy Byars

Or that safety finish. "Real" pilots get to the finish.
UH

Hank, when you say "safety finish" are you addressing use of a remote finish point in the event of bad weather or having a minimum finish altitude at a set distance from the field?

If it's the latter then that's not necessarily gone. I've flown an FAI contest where we did have a minimum finish height at the finish circle.

Best regards,
Craig

See Rule 10.9.5.

best,
Evan

On Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 4:03:51 AM UTC-8, Tango Eight wrote:
On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 7:27:32 PM UTC-5, Craig Funston wrote:
On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 8:25:58 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Monday, December 10, 2018 at 10:39:44 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I hope the "pro-FAI guys" realize that the adoption of the FAI rules will necessitate the elimination of the "Airfield Bonus".

I'm looking forward to the old George Moffat philosophy where a death dive to a landout in the boonies to pick up a few points is preferable to a landing at a safe airfield below.

Oh, and no more "staring out the cylinder top" nonsense either.

Guy Byars

Or that safety finish. "Real" pilots get to the finish.
UH

Hank, when you say "safety finish" are you addressing use of a remote finish point in the event of bad weather or having a minimum finish altitude at a set distance from the field?

If it's the latter then that's not necessarily gone. I've flown an FAI contest where we did have a minimum finish height at the finish circle.

Best regards,
Craig

See Rule 10.9.5.

best,
Evan

Thanks Evan,I understand the rules. I was just trying to discern whether the language used was based on an older colloquial term or the specific definition in the rules.

Best regards,
Craig