Silver/Gold Duration Question

[Dixie Sierra]

I've read through the information on SSA and through past posts on RAS
without feeling like I have a clear answer.

My question is pretty simple. Having a valid igc trace file, do I need
an OO for a duration claim ?

[[email protected]]

On May 27, 6:43 pm, Dixie Sierra > wrote:
> I've read through the information on SSA and through past posts on RAS
> without feeling like I have a clear answer.
>
> My question is pretty simple. Having a valid igc trace file, do I need
> an OO for a duration claim ?

Yes. The OO needs to transfer the IGC files or supervise the transfer
and submit them on your behalf. Just having a valid IGC file does not
prove you were flying the glider.

Darryl

[Nyal Williams]

My question is pretty simple. Having a valid igc trace file, do I need
an OO for a duration claim ?

Yes, there is no trust in this business. An OO has to certify that the
trace is yours and that it is valid and has not been tampered with. The
OO has to sign about three or four different statements. It is always
about the paper work more than about the flying.

This condition exists, sadly, because some people were caught cheating.
A pilot was stripped of all his badges, dismissed from membership in
SSA, and the numbers for his badges stand today as empty ciphers in the
list of badge holders.

Nyal Williams

[[email protected]]

On May 27, 8:47 pm, Nyal Williams
> wrote:
> My question is pretty simple. Having a valid igc trace file, do I need
> an OO for a duration claim ?

> It is always
> about the paper work more than about the flying.
>

Boy howdy! My main project tomorrow is to figure out how to properly
document badge flights. I got a datalogger a couple months ago, and
since have logged many flights that would have qualified for badges,
but I haven't a firm grasp on the paperwork requirements.

[toad]

On May 28, 2:26 am, wrote:
> On May 27, 8:47 pm, Nyal Williams
>
> > wrote:
> > My question is pretty simple. Having a valid igc trace file, do I need
> > an OO for a duration claim ?
> > It is always
> > about the paper work more than about the flying.
>
> Boy howdy! My main project tomorrow is to figure out how to properly
> document badge flights. I got a datalogger a couple months ago, and
> since have logged many flights that would have qualified for badges,
> but I haven't a firm grasp on the paperwork requirements.

If you have a data logger, the requirements are pretty simple.

Plan a task that you want to attempt. For a duration or altitude leg,
there is no planning.

1) Find an Observer. They should be a pilot who has done badges
using a logger before.
2) Tell them your planned task.
3) For a distance task, declare it in the logger, before take off.
4) The observer should be able to verify that the logger was in your
glider for the entire flight.
5) Download the flight with the observer present. Burn the file to a
CD.
6) Fill out the award application with the observer.
7) send in the application, the flight and a copy of the logger's
calibration sheet. ( you should have gotten a calibration sheet with
the logger, and you need to renew it every 2 years )

That's it.

Todd Smith

[Dixie Sierra]

On May 28, 2:58 pm, toad > wrote:
> On May 28, 2:26 am, wrote:
>
> > On May 27, 8:47 pm, Nyal Williams
>
> > > wrote:
> > > My question is pretty simple. Having a valid igc trace file, do I need
> > > an OO for a duration claim ?
> > > It is always
> > > about the paper work more than about the flying.
>
> > Boy howdy! My main project tomorrow is to figure out how to properly
> > document badge flights. I got a datalogger a couple months ago, and
> > since have logged many flights that would have qualified for badges,
> > but I haven't a firm grasp on the paperwork requirements.
>
> If you have a data logger, the requirements are pretty simple.
>
> Plan a task that you want to attempt. For a duration or altitude leg,
> there is no planning.
>
> 1) Find an Observer. They should be a pilot who has done badges
> using a logger before.
> 2) Tell them your planned task.
> 3) For a distance task, declare it in the logger, before take off.
> 4) The observer should be able to verify that the logger was in your
> glider for the entire flight.
> 5) Download the flight with the observer present. Burn the file to a
> CD.
> 6) Fill out the award application with the observer.
> 7) send in the application, the flight and a copy of the logger's
> calibration sheet. ( you should have gotten a calibration sheet with
> the logger, and you need to renew it every 2 years )
>
> That's it.
>
> Todd Smith

Thanks Todd (et al)

I'm OK with the process. I just wasn't sure if I needed the observer
for the flight duration. I knew I didn't need the declaration.

There's no need for me to have an opinion on the rules. They are what
they are and aren't really that hard to follow.

[David Kinsell]

Dixie Sierra wrote:
> On May 28, 2:58 pm, toad > wrote:
>> On May 28, 2:26 am, wrote:
>>
>>> On May 27, 8:47 pm, Nyal Williams
>>> > wrote:
>>>> My question is pretty simple. Having a valid igc trace file, do I need
>>>> an OO for a duration claim ?
>>>> It is always
>>>> about the paper work more than about the flying.
>>> Boy howdy! My main project tomorrow is to figure out how to properly
>>> document badge flights. I got a datalogger a couple months ago, and
>>> since have logged many flights that would have qualified for badges,
>>> but I haven't a firm grasp on the paperwork requirements.
>> If you have a data logger, the requirements are pretty simple.
>>
>> Plan a task that you want to attempt. For a duration or altitude leg,
>> there is no planning.
>>
>> 1) Find an Observer. They should be a pilot who has done badges
>> using a logger before.
>> 2) Tell them your planned task.
>> 3) For a distance task, declare it in the logger, before take off.
>> 4) The observer should be able to verify that the logger was in your
>> glider for the entire flight.
>> 5) Download the flight with the observer present. Burn the file to a
>> CD.
>> 6) Fill out the award application with the observer.
>> 7) send in the application, the flight and a copy of the logger's
>> calibration sheet. ( you should have gotten a calibration sheet with
>> the logger, and you need to renew it every 2 years )
>>
>> That's it.
>>
>> Todd Smith
>
> Thanks Todd (et al)
>
> I'm OK with the process. I just wasn't sure if I needed the observer
> for the flight duration. I knew I didn't need the declaration.
>
> There's no need for me to have an opinion on the rules. They are what
> they are and aren't really that hard to follow.
>

Dixie,

Never ever depend on discussion groups like this for authoritative answers.
The Sporting Code is easily downloaded from the SSA site, which trumps anything
you read here.

[toad]

> Dixie,
>
> Never ever depend on discussion groups like this for authoritative answers.
> The Sporting Code is easily downloaded from the SSA site, which trumps anything
> you read here.

That's really good advice, download and read the SC. When you have
questions, you might get good advice from RAS, but you should find a
local, experienced XC pilot to mentor you. This person could also be
your observer.

Todd

[Wayne Paul]

"David Kinsell" > wrote in message
. ..
> Dixie Sierra wrote:
>> I'm OK with the process. I just wasn't sure if I needed the observer
>> for the flight duration. I knew I didn't need the declaration.
>>
>> There's no need for me to have an opinion on the rules. They are what
>> they are and aren't really that hard to follow.
>>
>
> Dixie,
>
> Never ever depend on discussion groups like this for authoritative
> answers.
> The Sporting Code is easily downloaded from the SSA site, which trumps
> anything
> you read here.

Here is the SSA link http://www.ssa.org/members/badgesandrecords/forms.asp.
Contact the "Badge Lady" if you have questions that aren't answered on
http://www.ssa.org/members/badgesandrecords/questions.asp.

Wayne
HP-14 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/

[kirk.stant]

And a last bit of encouragement: It really isn't that hard,
especially nowadays with a modern logger. A little preflight
research, some Q and A with someone who has done it before (your OO,
for example), then go out and have fun.

Worse that can happen is you have to do it again!

Good luck,

Kirk
66

[[email protected]]

be happy you have a logger. have fun flying.

and I thought RAS was the authority on...everything?

[Shawn[_3_]]

kirk.stant wrote:
> And a last bit of encouragement: It really isn't that hard,
> especially nowadays with a modern logger. A little preflight
> research, some Q and A with someone who has done it before (your OO,
> for example), then go out and have fun.
>
> Worse that can happen is you have to do it again!

"Oh drat! I'm going to *have* to go flying again!"
:-)


Shawn