US Contest Rules Proposed Changes for 2006

The Rules Committee's proposed changes for the 2006 SSA Contest Rules are
posted on the SRA website at
http://sailplane-racing.org/Rules/2006proposedV1.htm Subject to possible
additional feedback from the US competition soaring community, these will be
presented for approval at the Feb 2-4 SSA Board meeting.

Ken Sorenson
SSA Contest Committee Chairman

Where should comments or requests for clarification be sent to?

Thanks!

-Mark

Hank Nixon as the Rules Committee Chairman,

Ken Sorenson

wrote in message
oups.com...
Where should comments or requests for clarification be sent to?

Thanks!

-Mark

Before I bother Uncle Hank, I have a question for the racing sages on
RAS:

Does anyone else think the practice of changing tasks after launch is a
bit dangerous? At the last regional I was in there were several days
that the task was significantly changed after the start of the launch -
different turnpoints, different type of task (AST to AAT), different
task times. And of course, the change was not announced until
everybody was airborne and gaggled up in somewhat weak conditions. So
now you have 30 - odd gliders, milling around in close proximity, and
trying to write down a new task, then having to enter it into their
flight computer and/or PDA. Whoo boy, that's a lot of fun!

Now I understand the need occasionally to change a task at the last
moment (I've CD'd local contests..), but I thought that was what the
AAT was for - to be used if the weather was iffy.

But here is my gentle suggestion for CD's out there - if you think you
might need to change the task at the last moment, come up with
alternate A, B, and C tasks before takeoff so the pilots already have
the task in the cockpit when the change is announced (and can preload
several tasks in some of the computers). A less ideal option is to
make the original task one that can be easily changed inflight (MAT
with deletable turnpoints, or different size AAT areas, for example).

A nice advantage of changing to an already selected and distributed
task is that the task change can be announced as soon as it is made -
"15 meter, change to the B task", repeated as required to cover gliders
in the process of launching, then confirmed with a roll call after the
last launch.

Comments?

KIrk
66

Before I bother Uncle Hank, I have a question for the racing sages on
RAS:

Does anyone else think the practice of changing tasks after launch is a
bit dangerous? At the last regional I was in there were several days
that the task was significantly changed after the start of the launch -
different turnpoints, different type of task (AST to AAT), different
task times. And of course, the change was not announced until
everybody was airborne and gaggled up in somewhat weak conditions. So
now you have 30 - odd gliders, milling around in close proximity, and
trying to write down a new task, then having to enter it into their
flight computer and/or PDA. Whoo boy, that's a lot of fun!

Now I understand the need occasionally to change a task at the last
moment (I've CD'd local contests..), but I thought that was what the
AAT was for - to be used if the weather was iffy.

But here is my gentle suggestion for CD's out there - if you think you
might need to change the task at the last moment, come up with
alternate A, B, and C tasks before takeoff so the pilots already have
the task in the cockpit when the change is announced (and can preload
several tasks in some of the computers). A less ideal option is to
make the original task one that can be easily changed inflight (MAT
with deletable turnpoints, or different size AAT areas, for example).

A nice advantage of changing to an already selected and distributed
task is that the task change can be announced as soon as it is made -
"15 meter, change to the B task", repeated as required to cover gliders
in the process of launching, then confirmed with a roll call after the
last launch.

Comments?

KIrk
66

Kirk,

I am surprised at your post. You Know that it is the Guy in the Back
(GIB, WSO) that takes care of all the Administrative duties. You have
proven how much fun it is to fly a 2 seater XC. I look forward to
flying with you again next summer.

Paul
Nimbus 3D

I know I don't live in the US and I am unlikely to
ever enter a contest there but changing a task while
the gliders are airborne? As a well known person from
your country once screamed, 'You cannot be serious!!'

We do produce multiple tasks here but never ever change
a task once launching has started unless we get everyone
back on the ground to do it.
Scary.


At 01:12 10 January 2006, wrote:
Before I bother Uncle Hank, I have a question for the
racing sages on
RAS:

Does anyone else think the practice of changing tasks
after launch is a
bit dangerous? At the last regional I was in there
were several days
that the task was significantly changed after the start
of the launch -
different turnpoints, different type of task (AST to
AAT), different
task times. And of course, the change was not announced
until
everybody was airborne and gaggled up in somewhat weak
conditions. So
now you have 30 - odd gliders, milling around in close
proximity, and
trying to write down a new task, then having to enter
it into their
flight computer and/or PDA. Whoo boy, that's a lot
of fun!

Now I understand the need occasionally to change a
task at the last
moment (I've CD'd local contests..), but I thought
that was what the
AAT was for - to be used if the weather was iffy.

But here is my gentle suggestion for CD's out there
- if you think you
might need to change the task at the last moment, come
up with
alternate A, B, and C tasks before takeoff so the pilots
already have
the task in the cockpit when the change is announced
(and can preload
several tasks in some of the computers). A less ideal
option is to
make the original task one that can be easily changed
inflight (MAT
with deletable turnpoints, or different size AAT areas,
for example).

A nice advantage of changing to an already selected
and distributed
task is that the task change can be announced as soon
as it is made -
'15 meter, change to the B task', repeated as required
to cover gliders
in the process of launching, then confirmed with a
roll call after the
last launch.

Comments?

KIrk
66

wrote:
Before I bother Uncle Hank, I have a question for the racing sages on
RAS:

Does anyone else think the practice of changing tasks after launch is a
bit dangerous?


Yes, I have experienced many in air task changes at Regionals and
Nationals. After seeing the effect on several start gaggles I make a
point of leaving the gaggle and going elsewhere to set up a new task.
This of course is a competitive disadvantage but the risk of doing it
the other way is unacceptable to me.

In air task changes should be discouraged and a min time of 15 minutes
between a task change and task opening should be mandated.

Glide Nav II allows multiple tasks to be defined but it still does not
allow an easy change between an area task and an assigned task nor does
it allow a defined task to be copied to a new task for editing.

Andy (GY)

Paul,

The guy in front rows the boat.

The guy in back shoots the ducks.

And feeds banannas to the guy in front as necessary...

And I'll take you up on some of that backseat XC this summer!

Kirk
66

Yes,

It's much better when the CD makes up A,B,C task on the ground and then
can change to B or C after launch. Some CD's seem to want keep
possible change a mystery though.

Todd Smith
3S