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RULES
SSA Rules Committee Meeting Minutes- Houston 11/10/01 DRAFT REV 3(11/30/01)
Attendees: Karl Striedieck(KS),Hank Nixon(UH),Gary Ittner(P7),Ken Sorenson(KM),John Good(JG)
1. Officers Elected and General Assignments for 2002 Yr
KM Contest Board Chairman appointed by SSA
UH Secretary
JG Rule Writer (no vote- volunteer)
KS Chairman
P7 SRA poll
Aland Adams(AA) Volunteer- not present
2. Schedule
11/20 Draft minutes due HN
11/26 new rules draft JG
11/26 rules changes/explanation JG
12/15 comments back to JG
12/31 blue book submission due KM
3 2002 Pilot Poll
8/15/02 poll questions to Gary
8/22 draft questions back from P7
9/1 or sooner- AA run poll trial with assistance of RC
9/7 questionnaire to Aland
Sept and Oct. Soaring- Poll announcement and availability of paper poll for those that need. JG
Prior to 10/1 Aland to put the poll on the web
10/1 poll opens
10/15 poll closes
10/22 poll results posted and collated
Poll questions will have explanatory background: pro/con comments added to improve
understanding and create better results. P7 to work with AA on this.
4 GPS altitude
Pressure altitude primary. FAA altitudes such as Class A airspace are pressure altitude. GPS altitude tends to read higher than pressure altitude at higher altitudes. Most errors are due to installation problems. Pilots use altimeters as primary reference.
Resolution: Retain present system.
5 PDA Shakman GPS
Major concern about manipulation of flight data on PDA. Much easier to manipulate than within Garmin type devices. Current rule permits direct transfer from GPS to scoring program which retains secure nature of file. Cost of new Garmin will be so low as to make PDA less desirable. The file must come from the GPS box directly or from an IGC file.
Resolution: Revise rule to clarify that programmable devices such as PDA's may not be used to transfer files unless using secure flight transfer software.
6 Deposits. Revise 5.3.3 to read "The sponsor may request $100 at time of preferential entry to hold an entry position".
7 CD can't be contestant. Now in guide.
Resolution: Add N3.1.7 CD and competition committee may not be scored.
8 Automated posting of scores on internet.
JG to work with Hobbs to smooth out timely presentation of contest information. Nothing for RC to do.
9 Announce no water contest by preferential deadline.
Draft Language:
[R]6.8.1.2 Prior to the Preferential entry deadline, Organizers will announce whether no-ballast rules are in effect.
10 Suggestion to eliminate medals for places 4-10 to save money? Resolution :Keep the medals to encourage "near miss" pilots.
11 Charlie Minner suggested requiring organizers to monitor 3 and 5?
Resolution: This is already done as common practice. In interest of simplification, don't add this as a rule.
12 Suggestion to formally add Stewards? Resolution: Not necessary. CD is responsible for enforcing rules. CD's must be held to doing the job.
13 Eliminate cameras.
This has been a long time coming. There is strong poll support. Spratt said last summer he hasn't evaluated a single turnpoint photo in two years. Cost of handheld GPS has come down to less than $300. Resolution: Adopt draft rules 10.4.3 and 10.4.4 as written. Remove requirement for prominent surface feature 10.4.5. Put in guide the suggestion that prominent surface feature be used if possible.
Draft Rule:
[N]10.4.5 [Omit - required that point be a prominent surface feature.]
[N]10.4.6 [Omit – required a control point booklet.]
14 Max number of tows in Regional now not limited.
Resolution: No need to change.
15 Entries/Resident alien. Sanderson comments about inclusion of all SSA members.
Resolution: National champion must be US citizen or resident alien per US gov't established criteria. (JG to investigate). Pilots not meeting these are guests. Require SSA membership.
Resolution: Foreigners to not be treated as guests in Regionals. Eliminate 5.4.3.2. Require that all pilots must be SSA member. Possible insurance requirements. Philosophy that they be SSA members. Typically in other countries contestants must be members of country soaring organizations to fly their contests.
16 (AA) Guests display on score sheet
Resolution: Can be intermingled or at bottom of score sheet at organizers discretion.
17 Junior/Feminine Champions.
Currently is in section 5(entries). Move this to section 7(awards) section.
18 Sanction Fee Review.
Currently fee is $30. Should this be increased? Karl will check with Larry to find out whether this needs to be increased. We are continuing to reduce the load on SSA. Poll in 2002. Possibly ranking list. Standard forms being converted to pdf files (AA and JG). KS to check with Aland about him assembling the ranking list. JG to talk to Larry about computerizing the forms. No action on dollar amount until feedback from KS.
19 Foreign Guest Entries.
Currently (5.2.2.3) non US resident guests get preference for final 5 positions( one from each country by date of application).
Poll Question.
Possibly revise to 5 total with one per country with second from same country if not all 5 slots filled.
Possibly treat foreign pilots on SSA ranking list as if US pilots for entry priority purposes. 5 slots would then be made available to non ranked foreign pilots. May help Canadian participation without blocking out others.
20 No waivers for contests with over 65 contestants?
Resolution: No rule change. RC will be reluctant to allow waiver but Contest Board Chair should have option to consider on a case by case basis.
21 Provide list of required documents in one place in rules.
Resolution: JG to add to guide to rules but not to text. Text already identifies in appropriate places.
22 Shorter contest period for regionals.
Resolution: Allow two days for Regionals. Reduce weighting to 90% to reflect the more luck prone nature of a shortened contest. Adopt drafted rule text R4.4, R11.10.2.
Rule text:
RX]4.4 For an official Regional Championship, there must be a minimum of two valid competition days as defined in Rule 11.1.
[R]11.10.2 If the number of valid competition days (Rule 11.1) for a class is two, that class's Contest Weighting Factor is 80.0; otherwise, the Factor is 92.0.
[X]11.10.2 If the number of valid competition days (Rule 11.1) is two, the Contest Weighting Factor is 75.0; otherwise, the Factor is 86.0.
23 Define task as TAT or AAT. Name definition.
Resolution: Use TAT as name of this task.
24 TAT for Regionals.
Poll results favor introducing. Well received in contests where tried this yr under waiver.
Resolution: Put in for Regionals in 2002. Intent is to put in for Nats in 2003.
Poll question for Nats introduction.
25 Turnpoint evaluation.
All GPS flight evaluation permits most favorable point to be determined at all turns. Permits same method of task evaluation (turnpoint evaluation) will be used for all tasks. Scoring to optimum point within turnpoint, even AT. This will mean there is no advantage in just nicking the turnpoint. Pilot gets credit for however far in they go, but must still get into the circle to avoid penalty. This will help safety in that pilots will tend to spread out more at the turnpoint. Landouts also scored to optimum point automatically.
Resolution: Adopt this change to keep task evaluation common. We need to review JG language.
26 MAT for nationals?
This has been very well received at Regionals and in Sports Nats. Poll supported 89%. Spratt supports strongly.
Resolution: Adopt for 2002.
27 Eliminate disallowed legs?
Requires use of flight log to confirm pilot did not enter restricted airspace. Problem is that it may effectively require graphical display which could keep out some pilots with less sophisticated systems. No currently available standard as to how to define these areas (where does info come from, boundary limits). Some sites like Cal City really need this now.
Resolution: Unless restricted airspace using SUA file is announced prior to preferential entry the prohibited legs approach must be used. Both Regionals and Nationals. Will require establishment by RC of standard way of defining. If JG can get it prepared as a standardized waiver option we'll allow it next year.
28 Disallow Second Tries?
Current rules permit 2nd try after landing and handing in flight documentation. This prevents just going to last turn on try 2. With flight recorders this is detectable and would work but does not satisfy current LTI and FDI requirements.
Resolution: Eliminate LTI as no longer needed due to elimination of cameras. Require landing at site to get credit for finishing task. Pilot may restart without landing but must call back to contest site within 15 minutes indicating restart. Land out on second attempt without landing and relaunch after the first attempt will result in loss of the first flight. FDI timing keys on landing time. This allows a second attempt without landing and restart, but with some risk. Add comment to guide about change in how to make a second flight.
29 Eliminate max finish height.
This rule was for spotting purposes with visual gate. With elimination of cameras there is no need for a max finish height.
Resolution: Delete for simplification.
30 Consider Larger TP circles
Resolution: No change. Change of turnpoint evaluation method will help reduce collision potential. See 25.
31 Encourage new ideas at Regionals
Resolution: Write draft rules that could be tried out at Regionals as needed. E.g. throw out a day. No action required.
32 Multi-point starts
JG draft based upon Australian system. One group with two points (i.e. Spratt) is covered. Poll supported multi-point start with 75% in favor. How much experience would be gained at regionals not known.
Use at regionals would still allow practice with the system.
Resolution: JG draft based upon Australian system. Spratt solution is one variant of this. Put it in Regionals for 2002, in Nationals by waiver in 2002. Intent is to use for Nationals in 2003.Poll this in 2002. CD guide language to encourage sensible choice of the start points for fairness and landout before start.
Draft rule:
[N]10.8.4.2 Multiple-point start
[N]10.8.4.2.1 Up to four groups containing 2 to 4 start points each shall be declared; each group shall contain the same number of points. The groups shall be labeled with sequential letters, and the points within a group with sequential numbers starting at 1. Start point names thus consist of a letter followed by a number.
[N]10.8.4.2.2 Each start point is the center of a start cylinder, whose radius is an integral number of miles not greater than five, as designated by the CD. Cylinder perimeters shall be no closer than 1 mile.
[N]10.8.4.2.3 For each task, each pilot is assigned a start number not larger than the number of points in a start group; the total of pilots assigned each number shall be approximately equal. A pilot may elect to start within any start group, but must start from a point whose number matches the assigned number. (Thus with three groups, a pilot assigned number 2 may start from A2, B2, or C2.)
[N]10.8.4.2.4 If there was a pilot option, the chosen start point must be claimed on the Landing Card. If a pilot claims a start from a point that was not assigned, a penalty applies.
[N]12.1.4.2 Wrong start point - penalty = 100
33 Area start
Sounds simple but has several potential problems. Needs more thought. There would be a tendency to start at the back of the cylinder and fly through the pre-start gaggles on course. This could present a safety problem. Disadvantage in pilot not knowing when they started. Likely requires graphical display to not be disadvantaged. With multipoint start option, prestart congestion will be reduced.
Resolution: No action at this time- table for future consideration.
34 Announce maximum start height x minutes before opening the start?
CD can do this now as part of a task “change” if needed. Requiring on each flight means polling via radio all the time.
Resolution: No change in the rules in necessary.
35 Consider use of speed limit instead of time below MSH?
Speed limit is difficult to evaluate because of wind. Hard to be objective. The 2 minute time below MSH seems to be working very well.
Resolution: No Change.
36 Restrict start locations (AA)
Best handled in CD guide as part of evolution to multi point start process.
Resolution: Add guidance to CD guide.
37 Unlimited start height and require all pilots to drop to x altitude before start.
Suggestion is to require everybody to go below MSH for 2 minutes after task open, then go as high as possible before exiting side of cylinder. Does address problem of fairness to late launchers. Reduces effective task length. Creates incentive to get last foot of altitude before starting- possibly in cloud. Potential problems associated with high pre-start climbs. Fairness issues.
Resolution: Benefits do not appear to offset negative points. No action at this time.
38 Define Guy Byars responsibilities to support scoring program.
900$ agreed to for support. $600 was actually paid last heard. KS talked to Byars. He has probably 50k$ of his time in the program. He doesn't want responsibility for Regionals. JG thinks we have 10 hrs work for Byars to make this year's changes. We need to ensure continuity in the event that GFB were to become unable to continue. Scoring program is critical. We need Guy to: provide user documentation, provide source code (disaster plan), provide documentation of source code, provide support at nationals, incorporate rule changes. KGS to call Guy: has he been paid? Why not? Non-monetary awards. KGS needs to talk to JG about what to do. SRA funds possibly could be made available also. Talk to Tim Welles about getting Guy paid if he hasn't been paid.
39 Time limited task scoring (PST.MAT,AAT).
Consider adding time to flight for speed calculations. Review JG analysis. This shows that for short tasks (1 1/2to 2 hr), getting back on time is very important Less critical when time is longer. John demonstrated that adding 15 min to TOC for scoring purposes only. Speed would be calculated as done now. Scoring only would be affected. This would have the effect of scoring pilot for the flight after the start climb. Effectively you wouldn't get the pre-start climb for free. P7 showed that for longer flights this is not a big issue.
Vote held: KS for KM,P7,UH against.
Resolution: Hold for future consideration. Possible article? Possible poll question?
40 TAT rule as written by AA adds extra 1/4mile to radius.
Resolution: Taken care of by other actions(25 above).
41 Graded penalties for turnpoint misses.
Strong (62%) support for progressive penalty.
Resolution: Adopt JG rule draft. 25 pt plus 100 pts/mile missed from1/4 mile to 1 mile. Outside 1 mile incurs same penalty as now.
Draft rule:
[N]10.5.3.3 Turnpoint control
[N]10.5.3.3.1 The standard turnpoint radius is 0.25 miles. This applies except when the CD declares a different radius, as part of a Turn Area Task.
[N]10.5.3.3.2 Proper control at a turnpoint requires at least one fix whose distance to the turnpoint is not greater than the turnpoint radius.
[N]10.5.3.3.3 If the closest fix is outside the turnpoint radius, a miss distance shall be calculated; it is the distance from the closest fix to the turnpoint, minus the turnpoint radius. If the miss distance is not greater than 1 mile, turnpoint control is valid but a penalty applies; if greater than 1 mile, there is no valid control.
[N]12.1.4.1 Missed turnpoint penalty = 25 + 100 * (miss
42 Finish cylinder same penalties as start (AA)
Resolution: No action. Non-finish situation is covered by rolling finish.
43 Manually recorded finish in event of unknown GPS failure on final glide.
Would require CD to determine most likely finish time from finish records and available flight logs.
Resolution: Adopt JG draft rule text:
[N]10.9.3.4 Manually-recorded finish
[N]10.9.3.4.1 A pilot who may have suffered a flight recorder failure can request a manually-recorded finish time. The pilot shall execute a normal rolling finish and is timed as the sailplane comes to a full stop.
[N]10.9.3.4.2 If after a flight a pilot eligible for a finish is found to have suffered a flight recorder failure prior to finishing, the finish time shall be the CD's best estimate of the time that pilot's sailplane came to a full stop.
44 Eliminate landing cards.
Pilots would like them eliminated. Scorers will want cards to not increase workload. Future evolutions in the scoring program may shift this balance.
Resolution: No change at this time.
45 Organizer's control of scores.
This has not been a problem except for last summer at Uvalde. CD now has authority to control publication of scores at appropriate time.
Resolution: No change needed.
46 Scores become official after a certain time.
Resolution: No change. Already covered elsewhere in rules.
47 Nietlispach scoring system.
Another time\distance alternative for scoring. New scoring system that would slightly change tactics but have no improved affect.
Resolution: No change. No current problem that justifies change to a new scoring system.
48 Flament scoring system.
Another alternative.
Resolution: No change. No problem that justifies change to a new scoring system. Maybe look at this again later combined with TAT.
49 Feldbuamer time/distance task.
In effect much like old Cats Cradle. Requires downwind flight to get best score.
Resolution: No action. No problem that justifies change to a new scoring system.
50 Sports 0.86 cut off for winners.
Added a few years ago to support the little guy as requested by the board. Sports viewed as entry class, but Dick Johnson rightly notes that it can also be the "exit class". Did board intend to prevent "exit" pilots from winning? Poll results almost evenly divided.
Resolution: No recommendation from RC. KGS to request board decision to retain or eliminate.
51 Disposable tail ballast in Sports class.
Resolution: Drop prohibition of dumping tail ballast in flight. This really serves no purpose. Rules simplification.
52 Permit WC Regionals to be valid with 3 entries.(F. Pin)
This is a developing class and reduced min could help entries.
Resolution: Permit valid contest with 3 entries having a score. Possibly revisit when class grows up.
53 Make WC entry requirement for Regionals same as Sports Regionals(FP).
This is less restrictive than what Francois Pin requested. Apply entry level criteria to class.Help to develop the WC.
Resolution: Revise WC entry requirements in regionals to match Sports.
54 Entry Fee Increase of10$ for Robertson for Regionals and Nats.
Those responding to poll supported approximately 2/1.
Resolution: Recommendation to board to add $10 to all entries for Robertson fund and additional $10 to national entries to go to US Team fund. Board decision- RC advisory input.
55 Team Selection for Club Class Worlds
KGS to remind board process was not followed. RC requests clarification whether intent was for Club class team members to not repeat attendance at Club Class Worlds. Poll supported concept that excluding ex US Team members would encourage up and coming pilots.
Resolution: No action other than voice disagreement with failure to follow process.
56 Eliminate wing number (LX)
Some pilots have voiced safety concern- want to know who they are flying with.
Resolution: Keep them. Poll question for 2002.
57 Evaluation system for new FR software.
RC has declined to get involved in evaluating software and hardware. This would be too large a task. Best left to IGC.
Resolution: No action.
No number Item: SRA Binoculars. Not RC issue. SRA issue. Sell both pairs: Canons and WWII flak binoculars.
58 Self organized retrieves.
Permit self organized retrieves but require that pilots ensure contest organizers are aware that crew has left for retrieve. Pilot will still have to call organizers so landing position and turn points are available to scorer. Relieves contest organizers from handling retrieve info on these pilots.
Resolution: Adopt after JG review of draft prepared.
59 Use Flight logs to enforce no-cloud flying and low finishes
Not practical to do this. Flight logs do not have cloud base info. Accuracy not adequate resolution for finishes.
Resolution: No change
60 Junior and Feminine National Champion Selection.
Current rules select Jr. Champ from Sports class.
Resolution: Remove and select from all Nationals. See 75 below for more.
61 Extend TAT to permit additional turns after assigned.
This becomes almost same as MAT. Pilots would fly shortest assigned portion to maximize "PST" portion of flight
Resolution: Proposed change not adopted.
62 Late start landout devaluation.
Would remove pilots starting more than specified time(1/2 hr?) who land out from affecting day devaluation. This has some interesting possibilities.
Resolution: JG will do some modeling for further evaluation. Possibly use a sliding scale. May develop into poll question if modeling is promising.
63 Specify a 500 ft minimum finish height for Sports Regionals.
Potential to improve safety of entry level pilots. Honor heights allowed in sports Regional.
Resolution: Good idea. JG to write new rule for Sports Regionals. Add fixed time penalty sufficient to make finishing low always reduce pilot score.
64 Consider Low finish fixed penalty
Resolution: Provisions to handle this are in place. Add some guidance to CD guide. Minor infraction 25 pts. Lower or obviously appearing unsafe will have greater penalty.
65 To reduce start gaggle lower height to force going out the top
Resolution: No change. We think this will just lower the altitude at which the pilots wait and likely make the problem worse.
66 Suggested 15 minutes min after task change in air to open task.
Theory is more time would make less concentrated "head in cockpit" situation. Greatest head in factor is writing down task. Sometimes circumstances such as weather require a shorter time than 15 minutes. Resolution: CD guide change to recommend 15 minutes, but no rule change to require it.
67 CD declaration of no ballast day at Nationals (P7).
Resolution: Permit only after unanimous consent of pilots. Special circumstances. This requires a new rule. Spratt has called no ballast days twice at Nationals where P7 attended.
68 Airport bonus for motor gliders (P7)
Resolution: Must land before starting motor for airport bonus. This was decided last year agenda item 38 but didn't make it into the rules. 2000 minutes text follows.
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.
69 Eliminate PSTmax time rule.
It has hardly ever been used. We can remember only one time in order to get pilots back in time for a banquet.
Resolution: Eliminate for simplification.
70 Min 5 mile leg for first and last.
Originally intended for simplification of scoring. Doubt if most pilots are aware of rule
Resolution: KM to call Byars to see if it will be a problem to eliminate.
71 Review 11turn points max.
Originally based on cameras with 12 shot film. Eliminate of modify?
Resolution: Leave as is. It seems reasonable to have some limit.
72 Finish gate specified at both ends.
Good to have both ends as ground features whenever possible to keep heads up. Not always possible due to site considerations.
Resolution: Specify one end and length of 3300 ft as now. Define gate heading. Provide finish heading to pilots within 5 degrees.
73 Gate procedures.
Resolution: Make gate finish transmission by ground personnel optional. Make it clear that gate crew judges height only- the rest comes from the flight log. See JG draft. Adopted.
Draft rule:
[N]10.9.3.3.4 As the sailplane crosses the Finish Gate, Gate personnel may transmit "Mark" and then "[Contest ID] Good Finish," or "[Contest ID] Bad Try". A "Bad Try" will be given when the sailplane passes through the gate in the wrong direction or is judged to be too low; Bad Tries are reported to the CD and the Scorer. Pilots shall not reply to a "Good Finish", but should acknowledge a "Bad Try."
[N]10.9.3.3.5 In the case of a Good Finish, the finish time is taken as the interpolated time the sailplane crossed the finish gate. But if the flight log shows that the sailplane did not pass within the horizontal limits of the gate in the correct direction, a rolling finish time is used.
[N]10.9.3.3.6 In the case of a Bad Try, a rolling finish time is used; the pilot shall not attempt another flying finish.
74 Wireless telephony- communication and navigation equipment.
Resolution: Change definition from "Cellular and Satellite telephony" to "Wireless telephony"
Wireless telephony moved to section 6(equipment) instead of section 10(contest flying). Adopt draft text as proposed.
Proposed Text:
N]6.10 Communication and navigation equipment
[N]6.10.1 Each entrant is expected to have a properly-functioning aircraft-band VHF radio capable of transmitting and receiving on 123.3 Mhz and 123.5 Mhz.
[N]6.10.2 GPS navigation receivers are permitted.
[N]6.10.3 Wireless telephony is restricted to emergency use only.
[N]6.10.4 Except as authorized in Rules 6.10.1 – 6.10.3, use of electronic communication devices including wireless data access is prohibited. Use of unauthorized devices will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct.
75 Determine Junior and Feminine National Champions
Resolution: Use same method as Hatcher. % of max possible score rather than % of winners score. Used to be Junior champ defined in Sports Nats. Changed last year. This needs to be cleaned up in the rules. [We think this was Aland's email comment referred to in 60 above.]
76 Requested support from Aland
Put contest forms in PDF format for organizer and pilot download to reduce SSA expense.
Continuation of development on web based poll.
KM to ask AA if he could take on ranking list
77 Poll questions:
It 19 How many foreign entrants to allow in nationals?
It 24 Add TAT for nationals in 2003?
It 32 Add multi point start to nationals in 2003?
It 39 Add fixed time to time-limited task TOC for scoring purposes?
It 56 Eliminate wing numbers?