RULE MAKING

MINUTES OF SSA RULES COMMITTEE MEETING - HOUSTON 11/05/00

Present:

Karl Striedieck (KS), Aland Adams (AA), Hank Nixon (HN), Rick Walters (RW), Ken Sorenson (KGS).

Notes:

Unless otherwise noted, all decisions were by consensus.

Discussion topics were assembled from committee members, from comments received throughout the year, and from SRA poll questions and comments.

1. Officers & General Assignments:

KS Chairman

KGS Secretary

RW Sports Class overall responsibility/contact, handicap list.

AA Rules Writer, has custody of the rules on disk.

HN Fall 2001 Poll returns collection and tabulation.

KGS to prepare a draft of the meeting minutes for review/revision by Rules Committee (RC) members and will email final version to SSA and SRA for publication on the internet.

AA to prepare a draft of the rules changes for review/revision by Rules Committee (RC) members and will send final version to SSA.

RW to prepare the rules change attachment/explanation for submission to SSA..

2. 2001 Pilot Poll

08/15/01 Poll questions/topics submitted to KGS.

08/22/01 Draft poll questionnaire sent by KGS to RC for comments.

09/07/01 Poll questionnaire sent to SSA by KGS.

09/15/01 Poll questionnaire sent out by SSA

10/15/01 Postmark deadline for poll returns

11/01/01 Rules Committee (RC) meeting – approx.

KGS to assemble and draft poll for 2001.

HN to collect and tabulate poll results for 2001. Poll results will be sent to SSA and SRA for publication on the internet.

3. Schedule

Nov 15 Minutes completed.

Nov 30 Draft rules changes competed.

Dec 15 Rules changes competed.

Jan 07 Blue Book cutoff.

4. Critical Assembly Check

SSA Board of Directors (BOD) asked that the RC consider increased enforcement authority for competition director (CD). Rules Change: Pilots must indicate their critical assembly check partner on the sign in sheet at the mandatory pilot's meeting. The intent is to further increase awareness of this issue and encourage pilots to follow the critical assembly check procedure without shifting responsibility to the CD or the organizers. Aircraft assembly/safety is the pilot's responsibility.

5. Safety Suggestions on Poll

We will add a poll request for suggestions that would improve safety.

6. Guests

We currently have "aliens", "guests", "contestants" and "competitors". "Aliens" are foreign entrants and are really just one type of "guest". Some of our favorite foreign entrants apparently don't feel very alien. The definition of a non-resident alien as Guest should remain in 5.9.1. In all other areas non-resident alien will be changed to Guest and resident alien to non-Guest. Also, guest pilots will be placed on the scoresheet according to their score along with all other entrants, rather than separately at the bottom of the scoresheet.

7. Should "Aliens" (now foreign entrants) be allowed to win regionals?

Non-resident aliens are not allowed to win US Nationals. Decision was to keep Regionals and Nationals consistent. No change.

8. Seeding Duration

There was a suggestion to extend the 3 year duration of seeding positions on the US Ranking List to accommodate qualified competitors who have not competed in the last 3 years. The only time this will come up is when preferential entry is used to select entrants to oversubscribed contests. Decision was to continue to give preference to those pilots that have been active more recently. No change.

9. Too Many Ranking Lists

Larry Sanderson suggested consolidating the three ranking lists: US Ranking List (seeding list), US Team Ranking List, Hatcher Trophy List. Each of these ranking lists performs a unique function, is needed, and cannot be replaced by one of the other ranking methods. No change.

10. Tasking: Incentive to fly farther on tasks.

11. Tasking: Incentive to fly longer on tasks (Cochran's use the day)

There doesn't seem to be a problem with recent task lengths. Not many complaints and we seem to hear about as many complaints from those who want tasks to be longer as from those who want tasks to be shorter. The balance of complaints suggests that tasking is about right. No change.

12. TAT (Turn Area Task)

This would be a new task for the US and has been used elsewhere. Rather than defined turnpoints, the task would be defined by turn "areas" in which an arbitrary "point of furthest progress" would be selected by the pilot to mark his task. The turn areas might be 10 or 20 mile cylinders, allowing each pilot's task length and flight path to be quite different. It would be a speed task with a minimum time and would require the use of flight recorders (FR). Safety advantages are storm avoidance and safety at turnpoints (won't have pilots approaching specific turnpoints from different directions and turning different directions). Beginner pilots could make their task shorter in order to get home. This may be used at the upcoming Club Class Worlds. Sounds like task has merit. We will try to learn more about it and will include this as a 2001 poll question to consider TAT use in 2002 Regionals.

13. MAT task use at Nationals?

The real advantage of this task seems to be allowing variable task length on speed tasks for beginners so they can "race" and still get home. This seems to be more appropriate for Regionals. We have plenty of tasking options at the Nationals with AST and various forms of PST. Decision to keep it limited to Regionals use for 2001. No change.

14. PST change to the Bayreuth system

According to KS, Bayreuth Post was similar in practice to the original US POST in which optimum scoring required arriving home at precisely the set task time. Bayreuth system involved flying out the assigned time, at which time your point of furthest progress was marked, and then coming home for the get-home bonus. To take full advantage of the normally high final glide speed, you want to run your time out at or very close to home and then dribble back and land at home. This seems to be a step back from where the current US PST has grown to. Decision to leave our PST alone. No change.

15. GPS Flight Recorder (FR) requirement for 2001 FAI Regionals

16. GPS Flight Recorder (FR) requirement for 2001 Sports Nationals

17. GPS Flight Recorder (FR) requirement for 2001 Sports Regionals

18. GPS Flight Recorder (FR) requirement for 2001 World Class Nationals

There was a great deal of discussion about these related topics regarding requiring FRs and the scheduling of same. The consensus was that the time has come make FRs mandatory for all the SSA sanctioned contests, with some flexibility as noted below. Organizers have pushed hard for this move due to the much-reduced workload of putting on contests without start gates and without film. Some organizers and potential organizers have threatened to not host contests unless this move is made. Charlie Spratt (the world's most experienced CD) is strongly in support of making this change now. Poll results indicated that a very high percentage of pilots are using FRs (83%). The poll shows moderately strong support (64%) for mandatory FR for FAI Regionals, similar support (64%) for mandatory FR at the Sports Nationals (interestingly 89% of those planning on attending the 2001 Sports Nationals plan on using FRs), and mixed support (37% in favor of 2001, 22% in favor of 2002 and 33% never) for mandatory FR at Sports Regionals. Concerning Sports Regionals, we are concerned that organizers will not continue to host this class at their contests if the must operate a start gate and deal with film just for the Sports Class. The decision was made to require FRs at the 2001 Sports Nationals such that FR turnpoint documentation and GPS starts can be used. . The decision was made to require FRs at the 2001 World Class Nationals (No bid for this contest has yet been received by SSA. Mandatory FR usage was specifically requested for the WC by David Habercom as well as some key PW5 competitors.) The decision was made to require FRs at FAI and Sports Regionals in 2001, at the organizer's option. Organizer's must announce the requirement for mandatory FR use by the preferential entry deadline. The rules continue to allow the use of non-altitude recording units (see items 19 and 22 below) in Regionals, so handheld units can be used (it remains the pilot's responsibility to provide organizers with the necessary software and hardware to download and evaluate traces – don't show up at a contest and expect the organizer to figure out how to extract your flight from your handheld). It is expected that in order to continue and to expedite the smooth transition to FR usage, the many FR owners/users/proponents will make loaner units available to FR-lacking fellow competitors, especially competition newcomers, as necessary. Cameras can continue to be used as backup for all contests.

19. Eliminate the requirement for pressure altitude on FRs?

Pressure altitude recording is not currently required, even for nationals – see 6.7.3.3. GPS altitude can be used in place of pressure altitude. Recent changes in the GPS signal accuracy allows removal of the 500' altitude inaccuracy language from 6.7.3.3.2. Rules 6.7.3.3 will be changed to remove the 500' language and to make pressure altitude primary and GPS secondary when both are available for evaluation.

19a. Delete 6.7.3.3.1 allowing ground controlled starts at Nationals. This was left in last year for the World Class only. Edit rules to remove 6.7.3.3.1 for Nationals.

20. Eliminate STI for Nationals

This is out already for any contest with mandatory FRs.

21. Eliminate STI for Regionals

This is out for any contest with mandatory FRs. If FRs are not mandatory, the STI requirement remains in place. Note even if FRs are not mandatory current rules allow the CD to specify a very long STI, effectively eliminating it.

22. Honor start height for Regionals

This was supposed to have been put into effect for Regionals last year and was apparently missed (item #28 in 1999 meeting minutes, see below). Use of honor system for altitude control is at the organizer's option and must be pre-announced by the organizers by the preferential entry deadline (60 days before).

[1999 RC Meeting Minutes:

28. Regionals start height with FR

We want to allow handheld GPS units as FRs in Regionals to keep costs down for those who want to use less expensive FRs. The handheld units do not record altitude. What do we do about altitude control, if anything? Mixing barographs and FRs adds considerable operational complexity and work load for organizers. There is concern about going to an unlimited height gate due to the possibility at some sites of a few pilots climbing in wave before the start and gaining a tremendous advantage. A very high start also effectively shortens the task. Best solution is to keep the height limit, but use the honor system for FR start height at Regionals for those pilots without altitude recording FR. It will most likely be the less experienced pilots flying with handheld units. Use of honor system for altitude control is at the organizer's option and must be pre-announced by the organizers by the preferential entry deadline (60 days before). This procedure will be reviewed by the RC next year to see if it is working.]

23. Send Nationals FR logs to Leibacher

Suggestion has been made to require organizers to send logs to SSA or Leibacher. SSA does not want to be involved in collecting or keeping flight logs. Due to privacy and organizer-workload concerns, it does not seem appropriate for rules to require that the logs be submitted. Organizers can send logs to Leibacher at their option. Current rule 10.5.1.1 allows a pilot to suppress one log. Change 10.5.1.1 to allow pilots to suppress one or more logs.

24. Remove rigid camera mounting requirement

Since cameras will now be used just for backup and no canopy marks are being used, the rigid camera mounting requirement will be removed. This allows the use of inexpensive disposable cameras as backups.

25. Keep camera backup?

Keep for 2001 Nationals and Regionals. Decision to keep beyond 2001 for Regionals will be made next year. No change.

26. Keep TP books?

Have to keep TP books as long as cameras are allowed as backup.

27. Handicap management

RW is in charge. Phil Ecklund is working with Rick. Very few handicap adjustment comments have been received and they are being dealt with. Steve Smith is willing to get involved to help if needed. New gliders: Lak 17, ASW 28, LS9.

28. Handicaps to include effect of lift strength (speeds)?

Too complicated. Keep it simple. No change.

29. Handicap adjustments (Nixon)

Already taken care of.

30. Remove 10 lb limit on disposable tail ballast in Sports.

The was requested by a large pilot to allow CG adjustment. In order to include all possible airplanes and pilots, the disposable 10 lb. tail ballast limit will be removed.

31. Intent of Sport Class

See item 46 below.

32. Remove 0.86 cutoff for Regional medallions?

This was added last year in an attempt to encourage newcomers at Regionals. The only feedback we received was negative. In the spirit of simplification and since this change did not apparently have the desired effect, we seriously considered removing the 0.86 ranking list cutoff for Regional medallions. In the end, it was decided by majority (KS, HN, KGS) to leave the cutoff in for one more year to give the change a chance to receive more notice.

33. Split Sports Class into two groups: above and below the 1.0 handicap?

We tried something like this before and had no participation. No change.

34. Should we have an SSA "certified" or required scoring program?

In an effort at simplification and standardization it will be required that the Guy Byars scoring program be used at US Nationals in 2001. SSA will require that the program be continuously updated to the current rules and a usage fee will be negotiated. Aland will talk to Guy and will discuss this with the BOD. Use of the program for Regionals will be highly recommended. The intent is to provide support to Byars to continue to develop and support his scoring program, which is already in widespread use.

35. Airport Landing Bonus reduction for devalued days

Poll response indicates strong support for leaving this as is. No change.

36. Modify MAT tie-breaker factor?

Nixon did an analysis of the effect on scoring of various factor values in the MAT tie-breaker scoring equation. He considered the current factor of 0.5 as well as factors of 0.1 and 0.25. The 0.1 factor appeared to give the most reasonable results. The tie-breaker formula factor will be changed from 0.5 to 0.1.

37. MAT devaluation threshold for undertime finishers

Current factor is 15 minutes. Same factor for MAT and PST. It was decided that the present factor works as intended. No change.

38. Constructive landout for motorgliders. Airport Landing bonus.

There was a request to allow motorgliders that either fire up their motor over an airport or land back at the home airport after motoring back to claim the airport landing bonus. Neither will be allowed. Once the motorglider starts its engine, its flight is over – no airport landing bonus. In order to receive the airport landing bonus, the motorglider must land at an airport, with any associated hassle or risk, just like a non-motorized glider. The motorglider can, of course, then take off and self-retrieve. No change.

39. TET Scoring

Bill Feldbaumer has suggested that we reconsider the introduction of his TET scoring system. This was tried some years back and was ultimately rejected. There have been no changes to the TET system or to competition soaring which make it more suitable today than it was in years past. In fact, the introduction of the PST and future FR/GPS based tasks such as the TAT task make it ill-suited for use today. There are also fundamental philosophical issues regarding the desirability of lumping all days together for scoring (as TET effectively does) vs scoring each day individually and weighting them equally (unless devalued). The present system is well developed and widely accepted. There is no known scoring problem for which such a major change in scoring method and philosophy is justified as a fix. Absent a groundswell of support for a change to TET scoring, it will receive no further consideration. No change.

40. Simplify penalties

No change.

41. Require US World Team members to fly pre-worlds?

Good idea, but not practical. Insufficient funding, team members don't always have time for pre-worlds, team members may need to fly US Nationals for future team selection. No change.

42. Team selection schedule for one-pilot classes

Pilot will be selected the year before the Worlds using the previous three year's performance with the current A, B, C method [Ranking based on class specific US Nationals (or Worlds) pilot score as a fraction of the winner's score. Rank is the sum of year C and the best of years A or B, with A or B multiplied by .48 and C multiplied by .52. Non-class specific bonus points awarded for top placing at Worlds.] In the case of a C year rain-out, the calculation will use the three years prior to the rained out year. The pilot selection system for classes in which two pilots are flying will remain unchanged. The selection system will be written up and posted on the SSA web site.

43. World Class team pilot selection

This will be done using the same 3 year method as is used for the other FAI classes.

44. Minimum number of contestants for team funding

US team funding is really a BOD matter and not a Rules Committee issue. Our understanding is that funding for each competition (i.e. World Championships, World Air Games) will be available in proportion to the average over the previous three years of the US Nationals participation in the classes flying in that competition and that funding will be distributed evenly among the individual pilots flying at the competition, regardless of class. According to Aland, his current recommendation is that the Junior Worlds, World Class Worlds, and Feminine Worlds are not funded by the SSA. The team funding policy needs to be written up by the BOD and posted on the SSA web site.

45. Junior Worlds and Feminine Worlds

Participation in these two categories in the US is so limited that it is not possible to apply the same selection and funding procedures as is used for the usual competition classes. Overall oversight of the US teams (selection, management, fund raising) which attend these competitions will be by the SSA. These teams will continue to be essentially self-funded and direct management of the teams will likely remain outside the SSA. The Juniors will continue to be assisted by John Campbell and the Collegiate Soaring Association and local organizations. Team candidates should be selected for the team based upon their highest fraction of the winners score at a Nationals flown the year before the World and should have achieved a score equal to at least 50% of the winner's score.

46. Club Class World Team (CCWT) selection

The SSA BOD requested the we consider some method for selecting the CCWT other than based upon performance at the Sport Class Nationals as is currently being done. The apparent goal is less competitive participation at the Sports Class Nationals. We are aware that there is a segment of the competition community that considers it undesirable for the "big guns" with the "hot ships" to compete in (and possibly win) the Sports Nationals – thinking that this nationals should be reserved for the less competitive pilots. We have discussed this matter at length in previous years, including last year and this year. It has been our feeling that the purpose of the Sports Nationals is to provide as inclusive a competition as possible in which all type gliders can compete on a handicapped basis. We have not found a practical way to fairly set a limit on pilot performance in order to restrict competition, nor is it clear that such a restriction is appropriate. Since the US does not have enough competition activity in "club class" gliders, our Sports Class Nationals is the best pool from which to draw the CCWT members. It would not make sense to send pilots selected from the FAI class Nationals at the exclusion of the Sports Class participants. If the US intends to field a competitive team at the Club Class worlds, it makes most sense to send our best pilots, selected from the Sports Class Nationals. The Sports Class Regionals have been emphasized as the place for less competitive racing and for beginners. Our recommendation is that the CCWT members be selected from the Sports Class Nationals using the same selection system as used for the FAI classes. The Sports Class Nationals rules will be changed to include selection of the US Club Class World Team members as one of the purposes of the Sports Class Nationals.

47. Cybertechnification of competition soaring

This topic was posted for discussion on rec.aviation.soaring recently with many good comments. Safety considerations: anticyber – we want to keep eyes looking out of the cockpit, not watching computer screens, procyber – traffic alerts, weather info. Cost considerations: anticyber – will be expensive at first, don't give any more advantage to the rich guys. Philosophical considerations: what soaring skills are we trying to measure, we've already given up navigation with GPS. Practical considerations: can't stop it so why try vs try anyhow. Decision was to restrict the move toward soaring cybertechnification. We don't want internet input into the cockpit while soaring, or weather info input other than what is currently allowed (eyeballs and FAA type). We don't want people talking on cell phones. All this will be difficult to police. Write rule to prohibit electronic input into the cockpit other than GPS and standard aviation radio communication signals. Violations will be treated as unsportsmanlike conduct.

48. Time delay in aerial task change and gate opening

Address this in CD guide to encourage CD sensitivity to effect of these changes on late-launching pilots.

49. Shorter time from grid meeting to first launch

Time is now 20 minutes. In some situations this can be too long if a short launch window presents itself. Change the rule from 20 minutes to 15 minutes. Add CD guide language to encourage giving as much time as practical and to ensure that when little time is allowed the first-launching pilots have sufficient time to get ready (e.g. pilots meeting should be at the front of the grid, give first-launchers early warning).

50. Do we need competition numbers under the wing?

Yes. Want to know who is around you. No change.

51. Rule 11.5.4… "competitors" should be "contestants"

Make change.

52. GPS start height penalty

Current rule (as modified last June) has same penalty for 200 ft high as 2000 ft high above top of cylinder. Change penalty to 25 pts up to 200 ft plus 50 pts for every 100 ft in excess of 200 ft.

53. GPS start: Shorter time below MSH

This change is an attempt to reduce the top-of-the-cylinder gaggling that occurred at Littlefield. Reduce the 5 minute requirement in 10.8.4.6 to 2 minutes. Rationale is that this will increase safety by reducing gaggle time while still achieving the goal of preventing high speed dives into the cylinder.

54. Safety finish considerations

The potential problem of safety finishers going off to try for additional turnpoints shouldn't come up very often. Let's keep it simple until we see a problem. No change.

55. Pilot to pilot communications at regionals.

Poll results were strongly against any change. No change.

56. Call back start times for GPS starts

No support on poll for mandatory call backs. CD guide should encourage call backs and should make clear that call backs are not necessary for PST or MAT tasks. No change.

57. Two-seater class

No support on poll for a separate class for 2-seaters. Note that 2-seaters are presently allowed in all classes except for the Standard Class. No change.

58. World Class rules

Now same as FAI rules at request of Habercom.

59. Motorglider rules

Leave situation as is. They take care of themselves.

60. Junior National Champion

Selected as highest percentage of winner's score at any US Nationals. Junior National Champ must have achieved a score of at least 60% of the winner's score and must be of an age consistent with IGC Junior requirements -- a Junior entrant in a US contest is someone who has not reached his/her 25th birthday on the first scheduled day of competition. Need to publicize the junior champ to encourage more junior participation. Per the 1999 minutes, this was intended to be recommended by the Rules Committee last year. We recommend that the BOD declare and publicize a Junior National Champ for 2000.

61. Multi-point GPS start

This is being used in other countries and seems to have potential for use here. We want to continue to use and develop our present system while monitoring other systems like this. Let's see if the change from 5 to 2 minutes below the top of the start cylinder improves the present system. Re-evaluate next year.

62. Tow fees

Given recent increase in gas prices, increase max allowable tow fees to $40.

63. Contest Applicant Owner Form.

Signature for sailplane owner to add "for non-pilot owned sailplanes".

64. Registration items required.

Add list of items required for registration from last years minutes.

65. Bad Try on Finish

10.9.24 in case of a "bad try" on finish, pilot must land and accept a rolling finish.

 

2001 Poll Questions

Request suggestions for improved safety.

Should TAT task be introduced to Regionals.

Team selection for the Club Class World Team.

Final 12/17/2000