SSA Rules Committee Meeting Minutes Houston Texas, November 6, 2004 Attendees: Ken Sorenson (KM), Hank Nixon (UH), Gary Ittner (P7), Dave Mockler (2XX), Dave Cole (A), John Good (X) . Election of Officers & Assignment of Responsibilities Voting Members KM, Contest Board Chairman UH, Rules Committee Chairman A, Secretary and Chairman elect P7, Opinion Poll 2XX, Rules Change Summary Volunteers X, John Good, Rules Writer AA, Aland Adams, Web-based initiatives 2E, John Leibacher, Seeding list 55, Dan Cole, Handicapping sub-committee 2005 Rules Change Schedule Minutes to committee: 11/24/04, A Draft rule changes distributed to committee: 11/26/04, X Rules change explanation distributed to committee: 12/03/04, 2XX Committee responses due back: 12/08/04 Publish our minutes on SSA/SRA web pages: UH, 12/15/04 Publish Proposed Rules Change Summary on internet: UH 12/15/04 Public comment due by: 01/07/05  Final Proposed Changed due by Blue book cutoff date: 01/15/05 to SSA, KM Board Of Directors Actions at Winter Meeting 2005 Pilot Poll Schedule 07/01/05 Send announcement to SOARING, UH 08/01/05 Send second announcement to SOARING 09/01/05 Question suggestions to P7 09/08/05 Draft Questions to committee, P7 09/15/05 Final Questions to AA 09/22/05 Open on-line poll, AA 09/22/05 Announce opening of poll, UH 10/14/05 Poll closes 2005 Rules Committee Election Schedule Rules Committee Election to follow same general schedule as the Poll. Additional May announcement to solicit nominees sent to SOARING and appropriate newsgroups, UH. Review of Rules Change Suggestions Submitted by the Competition Community All decisions agreed upon were done so unanimously unless otherwise indicated. . . Administration . . 1. RC to develop a list of contest goals based on 2004 poll response Poll question: Rank the following contest goals in order of importance. Poll results: Expressed as weighted count for each goal. . Goals Reg  Nat Increase Participation  756 604 Improve Safety 705 819 Ensure Fairness 705 871 Promote Technical Development 285 447 Make Contests Fun 799 722 Keep Cost Low    547 528 Measure X/C skills 669 842 Teach X/C skills 418 325 Select US Teams n/a 823 . ACTION: The RC will consider this list of priorities in their decision-making process and publish this information in the contest planning package. . . 2. Multiple CD Option: JJ (If two CD's want to fly, each would CD other's class). X submitted draft rule 3.1.3.4 UH -What about safety finish? If CD is flying, who makes this decision? A - CD should have contest management and safety as first priority. . ACTION: No rule change. A CD is not encouraged to fly, but a waiver may be requested for a CD to fly as a guest or regular entrant in a Regional contest. If a waiver is granted, CD responsibility must take priority over flying. Question is to be addressed in CD guide. . 3. 2004 regional entry fees went up $10 but costs went up $20 (Sanction Fee $10, Byars retainer $5, Insurance $5). Fees should be corrected to reflect cost increase. Recent changes to contest costs and fee structure were reviewed, and the following changes were agreed upon: Add $10 ($5 for fuel and $5 for insurance) to regionals. Add $15 ($10 for fuel and $5 insurance) for nationals. Add 5$ for variable fee where tows are charged separately. Increase separate tow costs to $41. All fees are based on sanction fees of $35 for regionals and $40 for nationals. . . ACTION: Change 2005 Maximum Fee Structure as follows: Regionals: $315 5-day, $350 6-day, $385 7-day, or $180 + $41/tow National: $575 or $270 + $41/tow Additional local fees, if applicable, must be disclosed by contest sponsor prior to the preferential entry deadline. Add a place on the sanction application form for local fees. 4. Emergency plan for missing gliders The need for an Emergency Response Plan was recognized. UH – Should this be required by rule, or suggested in the CD guide? A – ERP must be site specific. All soaring operations should have one in place. BRSS has had one for years…a manila envelope beside telephone with action list and important telephone numbers. UH - Will to talk to Dianne Nixon about authoring a ERP article for SOARING. . ACTION: No rule change. Revise CD guide to recommend that an Emergency Response Plan be in place for all contests. Post BRSS plan as a sample on the SRA web site. 5. Proof of annual glider inspection (Masak situation)   Tim Welles Suggestion is to require proof of annual inspection at time of registration. KM – Rules now require compliance with all FARs, and pilot must sign application form stating compliance. UH – Does not fall within purview of Rules Committee. * . . ACTION: No rule change. 5a. Sport Pilot Sport pilot certificates are now available. Should we allow sport pilots to compete in sanctioned contests? A - Sport pilot has some additional limitations. We need to understand these limitations and determine how this affects participation in contests. KM – We should monitor developments and watch for implications. . . ACTION: No rules change. UH to prepare a status report for next year's meeting. 6. Cancel day after a fatality (Lee Kulhke email, comments) Discussion recognized that this difficult situation occurs infrequently, and situations can be so different from case to case that it is not possible to address this in the rules. Any action should be left to the CD's judgement. . . ACTION: No rule change. 7. Two day contest ranking for “regional-like” contests (MG, Geezers) should be 80% Leibacher/Sorenson email Discussed and agreed that all contests that are ranked in the same way as regionals (ie, Seniors, Motorglider, and 1-26) should have their seeding points calculated in the same way as regionals. . . ACTION: Specify that for all contests where pilot ranking is based on the same value as regionals (i.e., 0.92) be calculated in the same way as regionals, including for two-day contests. 8. Sanction fee increase to cover team expense charge from NAA     Sorenson/DJ Lengthy heated discussion. Proposed $10 increase in sanction fee for one year to partially offset the NAA fees charged to the team. Passed 3:2. Nixon and Cole against. RC was unanimous in condemning the SSA's action in retroactive charging the team fund for NAA charges. RC intends to lobby directors to remedy the situation. RC concerned that SSA's actions have undermined team fundraising. RC recommends to the Team Committee exploring the options regarding completely removing the US Team from under the SSA control. RC supports efforts to separate the SSA from the NAA. 9. Partial payment of sanction fees for cancelled contests       Nixon Currently the sanction fee is refunded to entrants for a cancelled contest. Nixon has proposed that if a contest is not official, that one-half of the sanction fee be sent to the SSA and one-half refunded to the entrants. Discussed and agreed that this is appropriate because SSA does incur costs in support of an unofficial contest. The savings to the SSA is only in not providing medals. . . ACTION: Change rules to specify that if a contest is not official, that one-half of the sanction fee be sent to the SSA and one-half refunded to the entrants. 10. Ditterts concerns in June 8 email to Sorenson Verification is not possible for Sports Class Regional entry requirement 5.4.1.3 - Present proof of having earned the Bronze Badge, of having attended a formal cross-country or competition clinic, … UH - Change the rules to require Silver Badge to simplify the rule. . . ACTION: change 5.4.1.3 to require Silver Badge. This will now be the minimum entry requirement to the contest system. Pilots now on the ranking list are grandfathered. 11. Require sponsors to forward contest flight traces to the Internet.   Huss e-mail Proposal to require flight logs to be forwarded to SSA was supported. Add requirement to rule 13.2.2 about contest reporting requirements.. . 12. Contest form changes               Good Ongoing. Add foreigner's country to entry form Entries . . 13. Revisit long-winger priority in Sport regionals   2003 Agenda item #20 see #15 below 14. Reverse seeding shouldn't apply to out-of-region pilots   Elber/JJ (But in-region pilots             probably won't need it – KS comment) see #15 below 15. Remove/revise reverse seeding   Elber/Murray/Comments R5.1.1.2.2 approved by BOD last year but was not incorporated into the rules. . Rules change: Maintain reverse seeding as supported by poll. Allow organizers to have up 50% sports entrants selected by inverse seeding. The number of inverse seeds to be used must be publicized by organizer when contest is announced. 16. Place on registration form “Shared Sailplane” Update the registration form. 17. Remove “Shared Sailplane” “Team” is enough   Leibacher/Striedieck No change 18. 5.4.1.3[National] should apply to regional as well     Striedieck Agreed. Fix as clarification. 19. Foreigners on PRL with equal status of US pilots   2003 Agenda item #22/Comments/Milner's email Adopt Good's proposed rewrite of 5.1.5 and 11.11.1 except the 10% 20. Foreigners should specify which country they are claiming     KS Add to registration form. 21. Allow only one pilot per country     Kevin Brooker email    see #19 22. Should foreigners have two ways to get in contest (PRL and 5 slots) Elber Email see #19 23. Loop hole whereby a pilot could purposely score low to get in a regional the same year via reverse seeding.  Unknown author. (Seems far-fetched) Not applicable. Misunderstanding of rules. 24. Revisit last year's proposed 5.1.1.2.3 that gives a deadline for switching classes. KS Implement per last years recommendation. 25. Exclude Category 1 pilots when computing rankings from regionals (Kuhlke email) P7 - Effect would be minimal because all Category 2 and lower pilots would receive a higher ranking, so few would benefit. UH - No other comments have been received on this topic and the ranking computation has been the same for many years. . . ACTION: No rule change. Sailplanes and Equipment . . 26. Make ELT's mandatory at all contests In 5 years a new type ELT will be mandated and NASA will stop monitoring 121.5 by satellite. However, the current units will still be allowed to remain in use, and are actually better for Civil Air Patrol and do-it-yourself rescues. Value is not based on finding an injured pilot before its too late, but also on finding a crash site even if the pilot was killed. The risk, effort and cost of a search makes ELT of great value. . ACTION: Add a rule to make FAA approved ELTs optional at organizer's discretion in 2005 and mandatory across the board in 2006. 27. Allow organizers to determine requirement for ELTs. See Item 26. 27A. Establish upper limit for fixed ballast in no-water contests   Striedieck . . ACTION: Revise 6.8.1.3 (No Ballast Rules) to stipulate that fixed ballast may not be added to increase flying weight beyond the maximum weight specified in the SSA Sailplane Handicap List . . Starts . . 28. Starts “out the top” comments by Godfrey in Aug 19 email (Clarify how default starting score is chosen.) (Eliminate start out the top) . Agreed on no change because this is not enough of a problem to justify a change.    Also agreed to adopt Good's suggested change in 10.8.2.1. Speed expected to be below 100 kts within the start cylinder, regardless of whether you've started or not. Tasking . . 29. Make minimum final leg distance 5 miles for all tasks. Good 23 Jul email Agreed to adopt suggested wording for 10.9.4.7 30. Steering tp for all MATs Agreed to change the rules to allow a steering turn for a MAT. To be used by all competitors immediately prior to reaching finish line. A single steering point may be specified the is 3-5 miles from the finish Point . 31. Add distance option for under called TATs     Seaborn email This would require a new type task – adding an MAT onto the end of a TAT. Not approved. To address problem of under called TAT, it was agreed to add language to Rule 10.3.1.3 to recommend that the maximum distance for a TAT be that achievable at 130% of the maximum expected speed. 32. Reduce “trickiness” in tasking. We agree. We're trying. 33. One-mile turn circle     comments/poll Score to edge Return to ¼ mile . Poll does not support a change. No change. 34. Longer tasks     comments . . Agreed not to increase the stated minimum task length. Agreed to add language about recommended length and an expected occasional very long task. Regionals 2-1/2 hours recommended, Nationals 4 hours recommended. . . 35. Team flying with radios at regionals     comments Team training camp in place of pre-worlds. No change. Available by waiver. 36. Free flight task     comments/ Ekdahl email    We need the algorithm. We have enough tasks at the present time. Don't need more complication. Tabled. Don't know of any countries using this for contests. Motivation is the on line contest. Poll Questions. Finish    . . 37. Eliminate cylinder finish     Seaborn email/comments Don't eliminate. Keep as option. Strong poll support to keep as option. 38. Four-mile call from airport, not cylinder   Good email 23 Jul Agreed that 4 mile call should be made 4 miles from finish point. Agreed to change finish cylinder to a maximum 2 mile radius. Good to write revised rule. Scoring . . 39. Review MAT/TAT undertime change to 25% to see if it is enough. 2003 agenda item #50 Appears to be OK. No complaints. 40. Use IGC scoring system     Comments Discuss later. Under study. No change for 2005. Possibly try on a dual scoring basis once we work out the details. 2xx agreed to chair a sub sub committee to study this. 41. Automate Scoring of MATs to save time. (Award best score based on flight log. Card used as back up only.)           Godfrey email Discussed the benefit of simplification in allowing the scorer to identify the best task flown from the flight log. Agreed that the landing card penalty should be removed to allow automated scoring, and that the use of landing cards should be made optional at organizer's discretion. Landing cards will still be used for incomplete tasks or flights with incomplete flight logs. 41a. Must pilot land back to lock in a flight before making a second attempt at the flight? Vestige from the camera's days. Poll question. 41b. Use best scoring flight log. Except for airspace violations, can use most favorable flight log. 42. Use flight recorder logs to assess unsafe flying penalties     Salvo Accuracy of logs not sufficient to use in this manner. Not a rules issue. Not practical at this time. CD can already use flight log information to evaluate a pilots performance. 43. Max distance points equal to slowest finish points     Nixon No action. Hold for future discussion. Related to Item 40. 43A. Leo Buckley's scoring suggestions   Buckley e-mail of Nov 2 KM to review contest information from 2004 to see if honor start is being used. If not, we may eliminate this next year. . With automated scoring, and no landing card, it is not necessary to claim point of furthest progress, so declaring a constructive landout is not necessary. It is also not necessary to claim an airport bonus. Penalties . . 44. Make penalties a function of scored speed rather than points   Godfrey No change. This would be a big change for a small problem. New Class . . 45. Two -seat class made permanent? Wait to see. 46. Rules for two-seat class   KS email 2 May Agreed to adopt Good wording to allow more than two seats. Retained guidelines previously used. 47. Expand to allow all two-seat gliders   JJ Will allow by waiver after review of proposed rules. Sports Class . . 48. Split the class in two by ranking. B class can switch to A, but not vice versa. (Unknown author.) This is intended to answer critics of big boys playing in sports class. . . Agreed we do not want to adopt an exclusionary rule. Big boys are invited to play. . No action. . . Standard Class 49. Retain 9 lb wing loading? (Poll) . . Poll response and SRA meeting input at contests favor eliminating the 9 pound wing loading limit in the standard class. Major change to be implemented in Nationals in 2006, and implemented at Regionals for 2005 at organizers option. . 50. Exclude Standard class from 15M class   Kuhlke email They meet the definition of the class and will be allowed. Motor Gliders . 51. Extend motor glider self-launch provision to nationals (Two-year plan) Applies to open, 18M, sports Awards . . 52. Mention Rudy Mozer award for Juniors in the rules.   Campbell email FAI and Sports Nationals. See Good's draft. 53. FAI rules (7.1) should mention a bronze medallion for highest scoring junior. Campbell email see #52 CD Guide . . 54. CD Guide to suggest that CD discuss previous day's penalties at pilot's meeting.                      The CD free to do this now. No action. Other . . 55. RTKH seeding Only for motorgliders since it was their nationals. Not for others. 56. Circling to the left Inside start cylinder or within 5 miles of the home field 57. Weighing Current rules allow for weighing on the vehicle. 2xx to contact Minner to about how to better do this. 58. Turnpoints Eliminate references to less than a mile. 59. Airspace Rules Move all airspace rules to separate section. 60. Sponsors entry exemption No change. .