Andrew Warbrick wrote:
At 18:06 20 September 2005, Marc Ramsey wrote:

If one argues that it is silly to be
concerned about these things for badges, then I (and
others) will ask:
why don't we simply accept the pilot's signed statement
that a badge
flight was completed as stated, and require no further
evidence?

Marc



Probably mostly because thirty years ago some git was
faking world records and generated bad publicity for
gliding when he was found out.

Taking it just on the pilot's word wasn't allowed before those
incidents, so I don't think that's it. In any case, Marc was referring
to badges, not world records.

Like Marc, I like the idea of COTS for badges, at least up to Diamond,
at which point I think the pilot is hooked and will buy an IGC recorder
without quibble. I'm not familiar with all the COTS proposals, but the
ones I've seen seem little more than taking the pilot's word for it. I
hope this situation will change, so it's cheaper to use GPS
documentation for the easier badges.

In the ideal world, the badge claim submission would be much like the
OLC, except the official observer would also submit some information,
and one minute later "Ta-Da!", a new badge is issued. OK, make it a day
or two, it'd still be more satisfying than the longer process now required.

--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA