On Friday, May 24, 2013 10:32:01 AM UTC-4, John Carlyle wrote:
On Friday, May 24, 2013 10:04:27 AM UTC-4, Evan Ludeman wrote:

Man, what a pain in the ass at Mifflin.



Returning on the back side of Jacks with weak ridge and no thermals, you leave the ridge at 1900-2000 because you *cannot* get higher and fly through a ton of sink (netto 4 - 6 kts down is common). The closest point of the ridge to the edge of the finish cylinder is 1.6 SM and the 700' agl finish is 1520. You'd probably prefer to cut the corner if energy allows, but that makes the distance more like 3 miles. Twice I was hanging on my flaps at 42 kts at what I guessed to be the edge of the cylinder (when the gps says 1.0 mile, you've generally finished several seconds earlier). Eyes on the panel, about 1530 feet, right in the GA traffic pattern (amazing how many GA pilots don't read Notams and show up at closed airports!). This is safer than an eyes out finish at lower altitude? I don't think so. I fly a '20. What's a Libelle pilot supposed to do in that situation? We never found out because none of the low performance guys had to try to make this work.



I don't have a problem with penalizing actual unsafe flying. However, we're now erring on the side of penalizing (severely) *potentially* unsafe flying. Two guys I know of (there may have been others) drew no speed points after hitting the cylinder below 1320 agl. In both cases the airport arrivals were reasonable energy and safe.



Evan Ludeman / T8



I absolutely agree. I was one of the two penalized pilots, so my comments could be taken as sour grapes.



When you consider, however, that there was no shortening of the downwind, base or final legs, that I was using spoilers during all legs to lose altitude, and my speed was never below 55 kts until the flare, I think you'll agree that this new rule is too severe.



If this comes up for a vote this year, I will be supporting a minimum 500 foot arrival at 1 mile, with graduated penalties down to the surface.



-John, Q3

That makes three.

T8