On Jan 23, 1:08*pm, "Sean F (F2)" wrote:
I am a big fan of team flying in the US rules. *However, flying in complex contest environments with multiple frequencies warrants some additional precautions and responsibilities that contest management and team flying pilots should be required to follow...

1) Contest manager's/directors should find (and confirm before each year's contest) a number of team frequencies as part of their preparation for the contest. *Perhaps only 5-8 are needed even for a large event like Perry or Nationals to begin with. *These frequencies should be provided to those wishing to team fly on a first come first serve basis. *A limited number of team channels would be smart at first. *Letting team contest pilots pick their own "willi-nilli" frequency is asking for trouble. *These frequencies should be published (part of the pilots kit) so other pilots can identify the frequencies other teams might be on in an emergency or for a special circumstance (freq sheet carried in cockpit or published on task sheet).

2) In combination with "1)", it should be required that team flying pilots with assigned team frequencies must have a second radio (handheld) and monitor 123.3 while on the team channel during the task. *This is a simple, very low cost communication solution which eliminates various "team's" from being oblivious to the other pilots around them if communication is necessary. *It is the only responsible way to fly as a team on a separate frequency in my opinion. *If this rule not complied with, then team flying privileges should be revoked from that team. *Perhaps only one glider of the pair needs the handheld, but some basic form of 123.3 monitoring must be required.

Sean
F2

Team flying in US regionals is not likely to resemble team flying in
the WGC. As Hank points out, we don't have legal frequencies to hand
out to everybody. Moreover, our pilots do not naturally come in two-
pilot national teams, who have practiced pair flying extensively. And,
biggest of all, the point here is not to give practice for the US
team, it is for all of us to have fun.

Given all these facts, I expect pilot-to-pilot communication at
regionals to develop in a much less structured way. I expect there
will be a lot more "mentoring." I expect larger and less formal groups
to form.

Most of all, this must be fun. If we get to the end of the season and
team members say "that was great practice," but everybody else says
"that was a pain in the butt, and now I feel like I can't compete
without a hot team member," the experiment will be over. If you're a
"hot" pilot, and you want this to continue, be extra courteous and
inclusive this season!

With all this in mind, it will probably be better to have one main
frequency for each class. That makes it easier to find people as you
go along. It also preserves some of the traditional safety principle
of being able to talk to each other on a common frequency. It makes
the sportsmanship and openness aspect more reasonable. Teams of
hotshots should not mind a few lemmings tagging along and learning
their tricks. And it doesn't chew up the few available frequencies.

Mandating two radios is a lot of extra rules. When we allow team
flying, we're giving up on the idea that everyone is on 123.3.
(Though, in reality, lots of pilots already were turning off their
radios.)

However, that means we will all have to be careful about not talking
too much. Pilots who want to do very close pair flying and talk all
the time probably should find their own frequency.

The lack of frequencies means we should probably allow use of 123.3,
with commonsense restrictions like not talking just before the start
gate opens, and during launch and recovery unless a separate unicom
frequency is being used for those.

More thoughts in "team flying," the first link here

http://faculty.chicagobooth.edu/john...m#safety_rules

Let me repeat the big picture though. For most of us, do not think of
this innovation as meaning that regoinals will all be two-pilot teams
practicing wingtip to wingtip pair flying and talking constantly on
one assigned radio frequency. For most of us, this is likely to mean
more informal cooperation mentoring in larger groups, and the big
payoff should be having more fun and learning more. When thinking
about how to structure things, keep that picture in mind.

John Cochrane.