This is the current situation in my understanding:

The US RC is forbidding:

* AH based on GPS and airspeed data
* AH based on gyro data
* Voice and data communication via smartphone

The US RC is requesting:

* Removal of all AH functionality from all PDA software products that want to comply with their rules
* Disabled voice and data communication (basically removing the SIM card from the phone or enabling the plane mode of the phone)


XCSoar currently (6.2.6) offers:

* AH based on GPS and airspeed data
(it actually did/does _not_ work, due to a bug in the code which has been fixed for the next versions)
* METAR downloads via data connection

So the current situation means that XCSoar 6.2.6 is compliant because:

* AH functionality is bugged and doesn't work
* METAR downloads don't work when the phone is in "plane" mode


XCSoar will in the future offer additionally:

* Live tracking via data connection (starting with XCSoar 6.3)
* AH based on gyro data from smartphones or e.g. the Butterfly vario (if that outputs the necessary data)


Apparently it is controversial if the use of live tracking should be allowed or not but since the RC requests the enabled plane mode the missing data connection will prevent it's use anyway.

Future versions of "vanilla" XCSoar will not be compliant because the bug is fixed now. It is not decided yet whether we will officially publish a "crippled" version of XCSoar with AH features disabled, but since XCSoar is open-source any person is theoretically able to compile a special version with these features disabled.

If we decide to publish such a version this should only be a temporary solution because the real "problem" is certainly not solved by this.

Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion and may not be shared by all other developers of XCSoar. This is not an official statement of the XCSoar project, just my personal thoughts!



Am Dienstag, 28. Februar 2012 14:49:08 UTC+1 schrieb Sean Fidler:
But what of the direct email to XC soar by UH stating that XC Soar will be banned by the SSA contest rules commitee via a soon to be released BLACK list if not changed immediately to SSA required specifications?

This was denied by UH, then XC Soar countered by posting the exact email which clearly states the direct threat outlined above.

Sounds, at least to me, like XC Soar (and the many users of XC Soar) are still being threatened with a potential contest ban. I have not heard any retraction on that threat formally, openly or whispered... Its still in play as I understand it.

And what of other firms with soon to be releases AH type functions such as LX 8000, 9000 and Zues, etc. I am sure there is some risk there. Im sure there is risk to them as well if those bodies will not or cannot comply with the committees sudden demands.

LK8000, etc...



Am Dienstag, 28. Februar 2012 14:49:08 UTC+1 schrieb Sean Fidler:
But what of the direct email to XC soar by UH stating that XC Soar will be banned by the SSA contest rules commitee via a soon to be released BLACK list if not changed immediately to SSA required specifications?

This was denied by UH, then XC Soar countered by posting the exact email which clearly states the direct threat outlined above.

Sounds, at least to me, like XC Soar (and the many users of XC Soar) are still being threatened with a potential contest ban. I have not heard any retraction on that threat formally, openly or whispered... Its still in play as I understand it.

And what of other firms with soon to be releases AH type functions such as LX 8000, 9000 and Zues, etc. I am sure there is some risk there. Im sure there is risk to them as well if those bodies will not or cannot comply with the committees sudden demands.

LK8000, etc...