2014 SSA/US Tasking Analysis

Lord of the OLC,

The fact is that SSA ran only 4 assigned tasks in 2014. You're still upset about that? This is too many? That is only 2% of all 2014 SSA tasks. You seem agitated with someone daring to argue for more. Almost as if a slow demise of ATs is part of the plan. The lobbying against the AT by SSA officials is almost breathtaking to behold. How dare a mortal speak? SILENCE?

Karl, I commend you for arguing that TATs have some value (not a HATs of course). I agree. But I strongly disagree with your rather strong call for the 'genocide" of US assigned tasking. I think there are some Canadians who may disagree with your thinking. Personally, I think we already do "plenty" of TATs personally. I am sure many agree. I think my data on 2014 SSA tasking supports that effectively (70% or so).

You said "the racing we do is against the clock." Who is we exactly? Who determined that this is what WE do?

The funny thing is that I am merely arguing for "slightly more" ATs (more than 2%). Yet this somehow blasphemy? I am not arguing to kill the TAT. Several others have commented here recently (and in other discussions) that they enjoy ATs. I am sure many do. Are you speaking for yourself of for everyone in the SSA? Keep in mind you fly almost entirely in Sports class which has a new rule outlawing AT's. You're safe. Do you still want to kill AT's for pilots in the 15m, 18m, Open, and Club Class?

Karl, if ATs are so bad, why does the rest of the world still fly ATs regularly without concern? Why are ATs still a significant part of all major FAI events and World Championships? Is the rest of the World nuts? Is the rest of the world enjoying mass land outs with every AT with broken gliders scattered all over the countryside? Are the rest of the worlds competitive sparing pilots less skilled because the fly ATs and not all TAT/US MAT/ US HATs? Why is Glider Grand Prix growing?

Sean

I'm with Karl! The good guys always seem to beat me, whatever type of task we fly!

Mike

I'm with Sean! We should fly more AT's.
Mark

On Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 7:23:01 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I'm with Sean! We should fly more AT's.
Mark

No disagreement, and I wonder what a similar analysis would show for the last year of continental championships (see soaring spot).

John Godfrey (QT)
RC Chair

On Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 7:22:50 AM UTC-7, John Godfrey (QT) wrote:
No disagreement, and I wonder what a similar analysis would show for the last year of continental championships (see soaring spot).

John Godfrey (QT)
RC Chair

A little more detailed stat info on the AT results in the US to go with this analysis:

2013 had 6 not 7 ATs(Region 10 S had no ATs on the SSA results page)
1 of these had 100% landouts
1 had 50% landouts
1 had 40% landouts
3 worked well, roughly 3 hrs for winner, nearly all finished

2014 had 4 ATs
2 had winning TOC of 1:45 (regional contest, so not horribly devalued)
1 had winning TOC of 4:40 and 40% landouts
1 worked well, roughly 4 hrs for the winner, nearly all finished

Pretty small sample size, but real world results.

Sean,

I have trouble wading through your (what seem to me) rambling, unrelated stats and invectives to get to your points.

Suggestion: Ask that gem of a spousal unit of yours, Tiffany (PhD Mechanical Engineering, Law Degree), to proof read your tomes to make them more to the point and with less unrelated baggage.

"Lord of the OLC" for example.

You asked who are we that race against the clock. Answer: those of us who win contests.

Why does the "rest of the world" fly more AT's? So the pilots can hold hands and not have to make as many decisions/screw ups.

Pilot's herd mentality and conservative nature led to a mass land out of all the standard class on a blue day at the 1987 WGC at Benalla because no one would start first and they all played start gate roulette until 4PM.

If any characteristic typifies the US compared to Europe it is our initiative and pioneering spirit: Internet, Moon landing, SR-71, Jazz, research, etc. Let's lead the way in contest tasking as well, rather than surrendering to the dull bureaucracy that stifles improvements.

KS

At 15:04 31 January 2015, Karl Striedieck wrote:
Sean,

I have trouble wading through your (what seem to me) rambling,
unrelated
st=
ats and invectives to get to your points.=20

Suggestion: Ask that gem of a spousal unit of yours, Tiffany (PhD
Mechanica=
l Engineering, Law Degree), to proof read your tomes to make
them more to
t=
he point and with less unrelated baggage.

"Lord of the OLC" for example.=20

You asked who are we that race against the clock. Answer: those
of us who
w=
in contests.=20

Why does the "rest of the world" fly more AT's? So the pilots can
hold
hand=
s and not have to make as many decisions/screw ups.=20

Pilot's herd mentality and conservative nature led to a mass land
out of
al=
l the standard class on a blue day at the 1987 WGC at Benalla
because no
on=
e would start first and they all played start gate roulette until 4PM.

If any characteristic typifies the US compared to Europe it is our
initiati=
ve and pioneering spirit: Internet, Moon landing, SR-71, Jazz,
research,
=
etc. Let's lead the way in contest tasking as well, rather than
surrenderin=
g to the dull bureaucracy that stifles improvements.=20

KS

Was it not European initiative and pioneering spirit that resulted in
the US?

John Galloway

Karl,

Again I truly commend you for agruing and making points for all to see publicly.

I'm not sure killing ATs is equal to innovation in our aerospace industry. Perhaps a little overdramatic?

You cite the worst case scenarios. But completely discount t the value of racing vs flying to a minimum time. Just flying to a minimum time is boring. You also have no real answer as to how the rest of the world is enjoying what appears to be a completely different sport than the US under its rogue leadership.

You did not answer my main question. Do you want all classes (the ones other than sports class) to conforn to your opinion and end ATs in the USA?

Sean

Sean,

I say again, if a pilot hopes to do well with the TAT and MAT they need to realize all tasks are races/speed tasks. Being "bored" would seem to me to have a negative effect on ones performance. The greater demands of the TAT/MAT keep most pilots awake, compared to the those of the AT where you can put your mind in neutral and do OK.

"Completely different sport" "rogue leadership"??? Did Tiffany approve those???

Answer to last question: Yes.

KS

On Friday, January 30, 2015 at 11:12:23 PM UTC-5, Sean Fidler wrote:
Lord of the OLC,

The fact is that SSA ran only 4 assigned tasks in 2014. You're still upset about that? This is too many? That is only 2% of all 2014 SSA tasks. You seem agitated with someone daring to argue for more. Almost as if a slow demise of ATs is part of the plan. The lobbying against the AT by SSA officials is almost breathtaking to behold. How dare a mortal speak? SILENCE?

Karl, I commend you for arguing that TATs have some value (not a HATs of course). I agree. But I strongly disagree with your rather strong call for the 'genocide" of US assigned tasking. I think there are some Canadians who may disagree with your thinking. Personally, I think we already do "plenty" of TATs personally. I am sure many agree. I think my data on 2014 SSA tasking supports that effectively (70% or so).

You said "the racing we do is against the clock." Who is we exactly? Who determined that this is what WE do?

The funny thing is that I am merely arguing for "slightly more" ATs (more than 2%). Yet this somehow blasphemy? I am not arguing to kill the TAT. Several others have commented here recently (and in other discussions) that they enjoy ATs. I am sure many do. Are you speaking for yourself of for everyone in the SSA? Keep in mind you fly almost entirely in Sports class which has a new rule outlawing AT's. You're safe. Do you still want to kill AT's for pilots in the 15m, 18m, Open, and Club Class?

Karl, if ATs are so bad, why does the rest of the world still fly ATs regularly without concern? Why are ATs still a significant part of all major FAI events and World Championships? Is the rest of the World nuts? Is the rest of the world enjoying mass land outs with every AT with broken gliders scattered all over the countryside? Are the rest of the worlds competitive sparing pilots less skilled because the fly ATs and not all TAT/US MAT/ US HATs? Why is Glider Grand Prix growing?

Sean

Just a minor point: banning assigned tasks in sports class is not a new rule
this year. They've been banned as long as I've been around contests. In
the early '90s all they called were POST tasks. Now there's a task type
that's better off dead!

Matt